NORTH DAKOTA ETHICS COMMISSION Archives

North Dakota Ethics Commission considers fines for ‘weaponizing’ complaint process

November 19, 2025

KVRR Staff,

Commissioner Murray Sagsveen, right, of the North Dakota Ethics Commission, speaks during a commission meeting at the Capitol next to Cynthia Lindquist, chair of the commission, on Nov. 19, 2025. (Photo by Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — The North Dakota Ethics Commission is considering establishing a penalty for complaints filed in bad faith. Commissioner Murray Sagsveen…

Ethics Commissioner does not have the support to keep serving, governor argues

November 19, 2025

KVRR Staff,

Gov. Kelly Armstrong and Sen. Kathy Hogan have a discussion during a meeting of the Ethics Commission Selection Committee on Nov. 19, 2025. (Photo by Jacob Orledge/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — North Dakota Ethics Commission member Murray Sagsveen no longer has the support to continue serving beyond his expired term, Gov. Kelly Armstrong argued Wednesday. The governor…

1 named to North Dakota Ethics Commission, other 2 seats still in limbo

October 31, 2025

KVRR Staff,

Sen. Kathy Hogan, from left, Gov. Kelly Armstrong and Sen. David Hogue hold an Ethics Commission selection committee meeting Sept. 23, 2025, at the Capitol. (Photo by Jacob Orledge/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — State officials have tapped former Office of Management and Budget Director Pam Sharp to fill one of the three open seats on the North…

Committee still at impasse on North Dakota Ethics Commission vacancies

October 27, 2025

KVRR Staff,

Sen. Kathy Hogan, from left, Gov. Kelly Armstrong and Sen. David Hogue hold an Ethics Commission selection committee meeting Sept. 23, 2025, at the Capitol. (Photo by Jacob Orledge/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — The state officials responsible for selecting the next three members of the North Dakota Ethics Commission remained deadlocked Friday. Gov. Kelly Armstrong remains steadfast…

Ethics Commission highlights time management in annual report

September 1, 2025

KVRR Staff,

Rebecca Binstock, left, executive director of the North Dakota Ethics Commission, Logan Carpenter, center, general counsel for the Ethics Commission, and Alisha Maier, right, operations manager for the Ethics Commission, listen during a committee hearing on Jan. 31, 2025. (Photo by Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — A new report shows that Ethics Commission complaints that don’t…

Ethics candidates to face questions on agency’s role in North Dakota government

August 18, 2025

KVRR Staff,

Senate Majority Leader David Hogue, left, talks to Gov. Kelly Armstrong on May 3, 2025, after lawmakers adjourned. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — Officials tasked with selecting the new members of the North Dakota Ethics Commission said they plan on asking candidates what they think the commission’s role in government should be — a…

North Dakota ethics attorney calls out AG’s Office; lawmakers call for civility

August 17, 2025

KVRR Staff,

Pat Monson BISMARCK (North Dakota Monitor) — A career attorney who assisted in an Ethics Commission investigation told lawmakers that she thinks the Attorney General’s Office is pressuring the commission’s staff to resign. “I believe that what our attorney general is attempting to do is to drive them out,” Pat Monson, who recently retired after 46 years as a trial…

Lawmakers attempt to clear up unanswered questions over attorney general building lease

August 15, 2025

KVRR Staff,

Rep. Emily O’Brien, vice chair of the Legislative Audit and Fiscal Review Committee, questions staff from the Attorney General’s Office about how it handled finances related to a controversial renovation and lease of a south Bismarck building. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — Financial discrepancies related to an Attorney General’s Office building project have been resolved, staff…

39 apply to serve on North Dakota Ethics Commission

August 13, 2025

KVRR Staff,

Members and staff of the North Dakota Ethics Commission meet during an Oct. 23, 2024, meeting at the North Dakota Capitol. Pictured clockwise from left are member Murray Sagsveen, then-Chair Dave Anderson, attorney Logan Carpenter and then-operations administrator Alisha Maier. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — A total of 39 North Dakotans applied to fill the open…

ND Ethics Commission OKs lawmakers’ expenses-paid trip to Israel as ‘educational’

July 31, 2025

KVRR Staff,

House Minority Leader Zac Ista, D-Grand Forks, speaks on the House floor in December 2024. Ista recently asked the Ethics Commission to analyze whether it would be an ethics violation for him to attend a study tour paid for by the government of Israel. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — At least one North Dakota lawmaker has…