Storms start to move out of Minnesota, continue for western Wisconsin

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       (AP)  Two weeks after he lost his bid for
re-election, state Sen. Dean Johnson says a Supreme Court justice
lied about discussions Johnson claims he had about the state's ban
on same-sex marriage.


      Johnson told the Star Tribune that Minnesota Supreme Court Chief
Justice Russell Anderson told "an outright fabrication" in
denying that any justices had talked to Johnson about the Defense
of Marriage Act.

      Johnson also said he spoke about the ban with Justice Paul
Anderson.

      A controversy surrounding the alleged discussions began in March
after Johnson, a Lutheran pastor, was secretly tape-recorded
telling clergy members that several justices had assured him the
court would not challenge the Defense of Marriage Act. Therefore,
Johnson said, a proposed constitutional ban on same-sex marriage
was not needed.

      Days after the tape was released, Russell Anderson denied that
any justice had discussed the Defense of Marriage Act with Johnson,
a DFLer from Willmar. Johnson later apologized for having
"embellished the truth," and his opponents in his rural district
used the issue against him in his re-election campaign.

      In an interview with the newspaper Tuesday, however, Johnson
said that while no justice told him what action the high court
would take regarding the Marriage Act, discussions with the judges
indeed took place.

      "I told myself before I got to my grave, it would be nice to
have the court 'fess up to what actually happened," he said.

      Supreme Court spokesman John Kostouros said the justices had no
comment. He said the state Board on Judicial Standards ruled in
June that there was no evidence the discussions Johnson described
took place.

      After the tape revelation, Russell Anderson told reporters that
he had spoken to former Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz and every
sitting justice. He said conversations with Johnson about the
Defense of Marriage Act never happened.

      On Tuesday, Johnson said he had talked with Blatz in his office
about a variety of topics, including the Marriage Act. Johnson said
he later had a conversation with Paul Anderson in which the
Marriage Act came up.

      He said his former chief of staff, Cristine Almeida, was present
on both occasions and that depositions by her and former executive
assistant John Kavanaugh corroborate that.

      The majority leader said he has "lost a great deal of respect
for the court system at the highest level in Minnesota."

      Regarding his comments on tape, Johnson admitted he took
"impressions" from his talks with Blatz and Paul Anderson and
jumped to incorrect conclusions.

      But, he added, "I'll put my hand on the Bible - there were
meetings in the Senate majority leader's office that included gay
marriage and DOMA. I have no reason to lie. I'm not trying to get
even with anyone. I'm just telling the truth of what happened. The
judges can deny it, but at some point in time they will have to
confess to their makers about the truth."


Gallery

Another apology from Johnson, this time on Senate floor

Johnson sanctions include apology on Senate floor

Johnson told the Star Tribune that Minnesota Supreme Court Chief
Justice Russell Anderson told "an outright fabrication" in
denying that any justices had talked to Johnson about the Defense
of Marriage Act.


The former Minnesota Senate majority leader offers his perspective on the coming legislative session, with a Republican governor and a DFL-dominated Legislature.

Johnson says he told truth about gay marriage talk with judges

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