Former Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson has called upon Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to investigate possible bribery charges against the leadership of the Minnesota Legislature.
For several months, Carlson has expressed his concern about “Big Money” in state government to Ellison, who recently responded: “I certainly agree that money in politics is corrupting, corrosive, and weakens the public’s confidence.”
In his letter to Ellison, Carlson noted that the level of money raised by legislative caucuses has built “massive partisan staffs” who are paid for by state taxpayers, noting that the Humphrey School of Public Policy concluded that “special favors” are often granted to wealthy donors to “shape” legislation. Carlson said the arrangement “involves the key elements of bribery.”
Richard Painter, Chief White House ethics lawyer in the George W. Bush administration, agrees with Carlson, stating: “Legislative caucus fundraising is so closely connected with the performance of official duties that it cannot be properly understood to be anything but bribery.”
Carlson suggested an official investigation will compel state leaders to testify under oath about why and how they “shape” legislation for the benefit of wealthy donors. “The public has a compelling right to know,” Carlson said, adding that “No one, most of all our elected officials, is above the law.”
The Carlson letter to Attorney General Ellison is below-
Dear Attorney General Ellison,
Now that the conflicts with the Federal Government have subsided, we can resume our discussion relative to eliminating the power of “Big Money” in our state government. Your prompt response to our letter of December 18, 2025, appropriately sums up the problem: “I certainly agree that money in politics is corrupting, corrosive, and weakens the public’s confidence.”
The time to end that corrupting influence is now, with your office launching a full and independent investigation into possible charges of bribery against the leadership of the Minnesota Legislature.
Yes, bribery.
For background purposes, we know the following:
1- The abundance of money raised by legislative caucuses – $26.5 million or $130,000 per incumbent legislator for one legislative election cycle alone – and the highly questionable legality of building massive partisan staffs numbering some 317 who are hired by caucus leaders and work at their direction, with the taxpayer compelled to assume the costs. This was a finding of a report prepared by the undersigned entitled “The Future Is Today” that was distributed in August, 2021.
2 – In May 2021, the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Policy at the University of Minnesota released a study of the Minnesota Legislature with the headline: “Money Matters At The Minnesota State Legislature”. That study noted the special favors being granted to wealthy campaign donors, including the opportunity to “shape” legislation. This is clearly a quid pro quo arrangement in that it involves the key elements of bribery: money and its direct influence on public policy.
That is also the conclusion of Richard Painter, the S. Walter Richey Professor of Law at the University of Minnesota and former Chief White House ethics lawyer, who stated: “Legislative caucus fundraising is so closely connected with performance of official duties that it cannot be properly understood to be anything but bribery.”
Despite the seriousness of these very public allegations, which have been contained in our commentaries published in various newspapers throughout the state, not a single elected official has publicly refuted these findings. Not one. This silence in the face of credible evidence must not be rewarded.
Therefore, we are requesting that your office notify the Legislative leaders that you are launching an official and independent investigation into allegations of bribery as noted above. This will compel our state leaders to testify under oath about why and how they “shape” legislation for the benefit of wealthy donors. The public has a compelling right to know.
If permissible, we are willing to file a legal complaint. No one, most of all our elected officials, is above the law.
Respectfully,
Arne H. Carlson, Retired Governor, Independent, Lake City, MN
Tom Berkelman, Retired DFL Legislator, Duluth
Janet Entzel, Retired DFL Legislator, Minneapolis
Dushan Skorich. President – Zenith Research Group, Duluth
Professor Richard Painter will join us in moving this action along.
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