Minnesota Senator Says Lawsuit Unrelated to His Duties

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - A state senator who's accused of failing to repay a Small Business Administration loan says the case is not related to his legislative duties.

Sen. Sean Nienow, R-Cambridge, issued a statement Monday that also says he can't discuss the details until the case is fully resolved.

The SBA sued Nienow in federal court on Friday, saying he and his wife, Cynthia, signed for the $613,000 loan in 2009, but stopped making their $7,500-a-month payments 18 months later, and now owe more than $748,000. They took out the loan for the National Camp Association Inc., a business they founded and said was aimed at helping parents find camps for their children. The association, which listed their home as its address, was dissolved in 2012.

Nienow is considered a fiscal conservative.