GOP Launches Second Probe Of Democrat’s Role At Nonprofit

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Senate Republicans are filing a second ethics complaint against a powerful Democrat stemming from his ties to an embattled nonprofit.

Sen. Jeff Hayden served on the board of Community Action Minneapolis, which was found to have misspent $800,000 in taxpayer dollars. Senate Republicans filed a complaint last year questioning whether Hayden abused his position board position for personal gain. That inquiry stalled.

Republican Senate Minority Leader David Hann says they now have proof. He announced a second complaint Friday with documents showing Community Action paid for Hayden's personal flight to New York in 2012. It also alleges Hayden lied under oath to an ethics committee about his knowledge of misspending at the organization.

Hayden declined to comment to the Associated Press but said he planned to respond later Friday.