Amy Koch Breaks Her Silence After Affair, Resignation
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Former Republican Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch is breaking her silence about her resignation.
Koch told WCCO's Chad Hartman she's taking responsibility for her actions, but feels senate leaders handled her resignation poorly.
"I finally felt strong enough and I felt it was important to clear the air," she said. "It's not about excusing my behavior. And I hope that people know the apology that I made a year ago was sincere."
In December of 2011, Koch stepped down as senate leader after an affair with senate staffer Michael Brodkorb, 39, came to light.
Koch says when she and Brodkorb were confronted about their relationship, she thought it would be handled quietly. Instead, the story leaked and republican senate leaders called for a news conference.
"I think they knew what they were doing going into it," she said. "Again it's not justifying what I did, I just think there was missed steps and that's why this story goes on."
Koch feels the situation may have been handled differently because she was a woman. She claims she was treated in a different way than others in similar situations in the past.
"Most definitely. You don't have to look far to find that," Koch said.
The gender component is now part of a lawsuit filed by Brodkorb.
Last Wednesday, Brodkorb was critically injured in a car crash. He was driving a 2004 Subaru Forester northbound on Interstate 35E at Highway 13 at about 9:15 p.m. when he hit the bridge wall at the walkway and then came to rest against the concrete barrier.
According to the State Patrol, alcohol was detected on Brodkorb, and he was not wearing a seat belt.
On Friday, Brodkorb's wife Sarah, released a statement saying, "Michael's condition has improved."
Koch told WCCO Radio she will not discuss her relationship with Brodkorb.
