The leader of Minnesota Senate Democrats says his caucus doesn't intend to highlight tawdry details of a GOP sex scandal during fall campaigns but rising public legal costs could come up.
 
Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the affair that sunk former Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch and senior aide Michael Brodkorb shouldn't figure prominently into the campaign. Bakk says dwelling on it negatively affects the public's view of the Senate as an institution.
 
But Bakk says how Republicans deal with a lawsuit Brodkorb filed Monday over his firing is another matter. He has urged GOP leaders to set up a private legal defense fund to shield taxpayers from escalating expenses. So far, the Senate has shelled out at least $85,000 on lawyer bills.

Republican Majority Leader Dave Senjem of Rochester says he is not interested in settling with Broadkorb and that he expects the Senate to win in court. Senjem also said the lawsuit is without merit.