A state senator says a fellow Republican senator who’s under an ethics investigation should resign now. Senator Kent Sorenson of Milo has been accused of violating ethics rules which forbid senators from being paid directly or indirectly for work on presidential campaigns. Sorenson denies the charges and says he’s the victim of “a witch hunt.” Senator Brad Zaun of Urbandale has been interviewed about accusations that Sorenson stole a contact list of Iowa homeschoolers for Michele Bachmann’s campaign.

“I know the answers to many of the allegations. I am a part of the police investigation in Urbandale as well as the (senate) ethics investigation,” Zaun said. “…I think it has been a big distraction for Republicans…He needs to resign.” Congresswoman Bachmann herself recently reached an out-of-court settlement with the woman who accused others in the Bachmann campaign of stealing the list of contacts. According to Zaun, the accusations surrounding Sorenson are “bad” for all senators.

“I know answers. I think that Senator Sorenson should resign,” Zaun said Sunday. “…Let’s let the investigation go forward, but I think it’s been a major distraction to the senate Republicans and I think he should resign,” Zaun said. Zaun made his comments Sunday on “The Insiders” on WHO-TV. Long-time State Representative Clel Baudler, from Greenfield, watched the program and Baudler says Zaun showed “a lot of leadership” by saying Sorenson should resign.

“(Sorenson’s) a cancer within our party and you cut it out if you have a cancer in there,” Baudler said. Baudler made his comments at a gathering of Adair County Republicans in Greenfield. Senate Republican Leader Bill Dix issued a written statement Sunday, noting the Senate Ethics Committee “has appointed a special investigator to examine all the allegations involving Senator Sorenson.” Dix said that process is in place “for a reason. Senate Republican leadership believes in the importance of allowing the process to work to maintain the integrity of the Iowa Senate.”

(Radio Iowa)