Jim Poolman (UND Alumni Association Foundation)
FARGO (KFGO) – A former state lawmaker and one-time North Dakota Insurance Commissioner is distancing himself from disgraced former state Sen. Ray Holmberg, and says he’s being targeted because he’s gay.
Jim Poolman is a Fargo businessman who sits on several boards, including the University of North Dakota Alumni Association and Foundation Board of Directors. He released a statement Monday night after a picture of himself with Holmberg began circulating on social media.
Poolman says he, like many others in North Dakota politics, worked with Holmberg, but did nothing illegal and knew nothing about Holmberg’s activities. Poolman was a state representative from 1992 to 2001 before he was insurance commissioner from 2001 to 2007.
The Department of Homeland Security interviewed Poolman about a year-and-a-half ago regarding what he may know about Holmberg’s activities and associates. Poolman says he has not heard anything from federal law enforcement since.
Holmberg was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after admitting he traveled overseas with the intent of having sex with children.
“Holmberg’s behavior is indefensible, awful, and beyond comprehension,” Poolman said. “I never received any communications, electronic or otherwise, that would indicate that he was conducting himself in such a manner. He did not talk about his horrible crimes to me.”
Poolman says it may be easy to build a case of guilt by association, but there are many people in Holmberg’s orbit over his decades in public service.
“Lumping them all together is irresponsible and trial by innuendo is a disservice to the truth and to anyone who has been affected, including real victims,” Poolman said.
Poolman, who publicly came out as gay in the statement, says being falsely grouped into this social media guesswork is just one more misguided example of this rumor mongering misinformation.
“So many others worked with Sen. Holmberg, it is hard for me to imagine that I have been targeted for any other reason other than that I am a gay man,” Poolman said.
On Sunday, Bruce Gjovig released a statement after a BCI report came out showing Holmberg communicated with him.
Jim….you know its guilt by association. I have a hard time believing that you nor anyone else did not know something.
The onus is on you and the others to prove to ND taxpayers that you didn’t know, nor participated in like behavior.
If you are not guilty, it will come out. All of the truth will be revealed.