In his first interview about his firing from the Minnesota Senate, Brodkorb said he was ousted amid a power grab -- and he continues on to say the fact that his lawsuit still hasn't been settled raises questions about who is really in control at the Senate.
A year ago, Brodkorb was one of the most powerful men in Minnesota politics. He took a fast fall from grace ten months ago when his affair with then-Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch surfaced.
"I've been out in public and have been yelled at. I have left movie theaters and I've had people come up and just berate me," Brodkorb explained.
While Brodkorb may not wear a scarlet letter, he says he still experiences the effects now that he is known as the man whose affair brought down Koch -- and the man who would spill the Senate's secrets to prove gender discrimination in his termination.
In his first interview with FOX 9 News, the old political operative described his firing and Koch's resignation as a hostile takeover. Now, he says his pending federal lawsuit against the Senate would have been settled by now if it wasn't for the upcoming election and the Senate lawyers.
"To be blunt and honest, it raises questions about who's really running the show, who's really pulling the strings and making the decisions," he said.
Brodkorb said Senate Majority Leader David Senjem told him that he, too, wants to settle the suit, but Brodkorb claims the Senate's lawyers are too busy collecting legal fees, which have already topped $100,000.
On Sunday, Brodkorb explained that his boss, then-Senate Chief of Staff Cullen Sheehan, knew about the affair months before he was fired.
"When Cullen and I spoke about the affair, I was direct about doing the right thing personally and professionally," Brodkorb said.
The Senate's rules include a clear nepotism policy that reads: "If a relationship develops after the start of employment, [the employer] will find a position within the Senate to eliminate the manager-subordinate relationship."
"I was told I don't need to leave the Senate, that we would find other activities," Brodkorb said.
But that's not how it played out for him. Two weeks before Christmas, Koch was confronted by four senators at the Minneapolis Club and was forced to resign. Meanwhile, Brodkorb was fired at a bar in Mendota Heights. Looking back, he describes the coordinated effort as a palace coup.
"[It's an] example of old boys politics," he said.
When asked whether he suspected sexism was involved, he replied, "I have no doubt."
At about 5 p.m. on Monday, the attorney for the Minnesota Senate saying, "The Senate and its staff have done nothing wrong regarding Mr. Brodkorb. The Senate will continue to defend its position with the lawsuit without reservation."
The attorneys added that they intend to ask the judge to order Brodkorb to pay the Senate's legal fees.
GOP spokesman Steve Sviggum also issued a statement on Monday saying Brodkorb's version of the events is not true.
