HEADLINE: “Records Show Pete Stauber Communicated With Key GOP Group On County E-Mail” [Minnesota Star Tribune, 9/6/18]
HEADLINE: “Congressional Candidate Used County Resources To Advance Candidacy” [Grand Forks Herald, 10/30/18]
2018: Stauber Used A Government Email Address To Communicate With A Republican Party Campaign Group, Which Was In Violation Of His County Policy. According to the Duluth News Tribune, “Republican candidate Pete Stauber used a government email address to communicate with a major party group in Washington, D.C., a Star Tribune report alleged Thursday. The newspaper gained information from a public records request and found Stauber was involved in correspondence across 15 emails with the National Republican Congressional Committee. ‘The email traffic would appear to be in violation of a St. Louis County policy, which states ‘elected officials will not use St. Louis County equipment in support of their own campaigns for re-election, other candidates for public office, or political organizations,’ reported the Star Tribune.” [Duluth News Tribune, 9/6/18]
Stauber And His Campaign Refused To Release The Emails In Question. According to the Duluth News Tribune, "‘The email traffic would appear to be in violation of a St. Louis County policy, which states ‘elected officials will not use St. Louis County equipment in support of their own campaigns for re-election, other candidates for public office, or political organizations,’ ‘ reported the Star Tribune. Stauber and his campaign have not released the emails in question and refused to address the issue directly." [Duluth News Tribune, 9/6/18]
Stauber’s Campaign Characterized News Of His Emails As “Desperate Smears From The Left.” According to the Duluth News Tribune, "The county ‘declined to provide the e-mails, citing a Minnesota statute that makes correspondence between private individuals and elected officials private,’ wrote the Star Tribune. In his defense, the Stauber campaign issued a brief statement Thursday. ‘Pete continues to be laser-focused on visiting with Minnesotans in the 8th District and listening to their concerns,’ said Stauber campaign spokeswoman Caroline Tarwid, who termed the news of the emails, ‘desperate smears from the left.’" [Duluth News Tribune, 9/6/18]
St. Louis County Refused To Release Stauber’s Emails, Claiming “Correspondence Between Individuals And Elected Officials Is Private Data On Individuals.” According to the Twin City Pioneer Press, “But St. Louis County continued to hold fast to the emails, and its defense said in court it takes issue with the Department of Administration and its repeated interpretations of a state data practices statute which begins, ‘Correspondence between individuals and elected officials is private data on individuals.’” [Twin Cities Pioneer Press, 10/26/18]
The Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party Sued St. Louis County For The Release Of Stauber’s Emails With The NRCC. According to the Twin City Pioneer Press, “The DFL sued the county earlier in the week for the release of correspondence with the National Republican Congressional Committee found in Stauber’s county email account. Stauber, a county commissioner and retired Duluth police officer, is running for the open seat in the 8th Congressional District against Democrat Joe Radinovich and Independence Party candidate Ray ‘Skip’ Sandman.” [Twin Cities Pioneer Press, 10/26/18]
HEADLINE: “Stauber Emails With GOP Group Released After Court Order” [CBS News, 10/30/18]
A District Judge Ordered St. Louis County To Release Stauber’s Emails, Which Showed Stauber Requesting Opposition Research From The NRCC. According to the Associated Press via Seattle Times, “The county released the 22 emails after the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party sued for access to them, arguing that they were public data under the state’s open records law. District Judge Stoney Hiljus signed an order Monday for the county to turn them over. […] The emails show that Stauber requested opposition research on Democratic U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan in August 2017, ahead of a congressional field hearing in Duluth on veterans’ health care issues. Stauber wrote that he needed ‘Nolan’s anti-Veteran votes’ so he could get people to attend.” [Associated Press via the Seattle Times, 10/30/18]
Stauber’s Emails Showed He Messaged The NRCC About How He Could Use His Opponent’s Support For Net Neutrality Against Him. According to the Associated Press via Seattle Times, "Stauber made that request before Nolan announced in February that he would drop out of the race and retire. He also traded messages last December with the NRCC’s regional press secretary, Maddie Anderson, discussing how they might use Nolan’s support for internet neutrality against him. Stauber pointed out an item in Nolan’s weekly email newsletter to constituents denouncing the Federal Communications Commission’s decision last December to end net neutrality. Anderson replied that the outrage ‘has really faded away’ and that it ‘might be a plus’ if Nolan made it an issue. Stauber agreed." [Associated Press via the Seattle Times, 10/30/18]
Stauber’s Emails Showed Him Setting Up Meetings With Lawmakers About An Obama Administration Decision To Block Mineral Prospecting Near The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. According to the Associated Press via Seattle Times, "Several other emails, from before Stauber officially announced his candidacy in July 2017, dealt with setting up meetings with lawmakers about an Obama administration decision to block mineral prospecting near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, which the Trump administration has since rescinded. Stauber said he attended one on the Iron Range that included Nolan and GOP U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota, and two other congressmen involved in natural resources issues, even though Stauber wasn’t invited. The messages didn’t indicate what transpired at those meetings." [Associated Press via the Seattle Times, 10/30/18]
Stauber’s Emails Showed Him Setting Up An Interview With Fox News. According to the Associated Press via Seattle Times, "Stauber said he attended one on the Iron Range that included Nolan and GOP U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota, and two other congressmen involved in natural resources issues, even though Stauber wasn’t invited. The messages didn’t indicate what transpired at those meetings. Several others dealt with setting up an interview with the Fox News Channel." [Associated Press via the Seattle Times, 10/30/18]