After spending the last half of the week doing damage control over comments by Dickinson Representative Luke Simons, leaders of the North Dakota GOP are now calling for Simons' resignation. House Majority Leader -- Carrington Representative Chet Pollert -- says initially, the issues with Representative Simons began when he used expletives toward another lawmaker who asked him to put on a mask while in the capitol lunchroom…
"...Because after that, there was an open records request and more stuff came out. When we hit crossover, which was Wednesday, it had started then. And Thursday and Friday, I haven't had a lot of free time, if you want to know the truth."
As far as whether or not Pollert expects to see Simons resign…
"...Because, if not, when we come in after crossover we will see. If he accepts the resignation, nothing goes further. If not, I'm sure there will be resolutions of a severe censure at the least. Expulsion is also in the statement. You know, that's a very good possibility."
Simons was first elected to the state House in 2016. He was reelected to the seat last fall.