<p>A former <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/north-dakota" target="_blank" rel="noopener">North Dakota</a> Republican state senator pleaded not guilty to federal child sex abuse charges on Monday — months after the lawmaker resigned following a <a href="https://www.inforum.com/news/north-dakota/north-dakotas-longest-serving-state-senator-exchanged-72-texts-with-jailed-child-porn-suspect" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> revealing he allegedly texted a man in jail for possessing child pornography.</p>
<p>Ray Holmberg, 79, one of the nation&#8217;s longest-serving state senators, faces charges in U.S. District Court in Fargo for traveling to Europe with the intent of paying for sex with a minor and receipt and attempted receipt of child pornography, <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/former-north-dakota-state-senator-charged-traveling-intent-engage-illicit-sexual-conduct" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to the Department of Justice.</p>
<p>Court documents allege Holmberg traveled from North Dakota to Prague, Czech Republic, from June 2011 through November 2016 for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts with a minor. The indictment also suggests Holmberg received material depicting a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct from November 2012 to March 2013.</p>
<p>Mark Friese, attorney for Holmberg, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-dakota-senator-indictment-ray-holmberg-prague-8c30a68285dff5ee66668340deb4effc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> The Associated Press in a text message that authorities investigated his client &#8220;for 2 years or more and allege nothing recent. The conduct they allege is from more than a decade ago.&#8221;</p>
<p>Friese added that authorities released Holmberg with conditions, and the judge did not require him to post any bond.</p>
<p>Holmberg faces a maximum penalty of 50 years in prison if convicted. Authorities <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-nd/pr/former-north-dakota-state-senator-indicted-child-sex-tourism-and-child-pornography" target="_blank" rel="noopener">set a trial</a> date for December 5.</p>
<p>The former state senator served more than 45 years in North Dakota until he resigned in April 2022 after The Forum, a local newspaper, reported he exchanged 72 text messages with Nicholas James Morgan-Derosier, a landscaper whom authorities jailed on charges of possessing child pornography. Morgan-Derosier pleaded guilty to seven counts of possession and distribution of child pornography in September.</p>
<p>It was unclear at the time what the two individuals exchanged in the text messages.</p>
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<p>According to an Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-north-dakota-ae29f1793062487dd3b9a744e3e71e18" target="_blank" rel="noopener">review</a> of Holmberg&#8217;s travel records, the ex-lawmaker received approximately $126,000 in reimbursements for about 70 out-of-state trips between 2013 through April 2022. The outlet reported Holmberg&#8217;s travels included four dozen U.S. cities, Canada, Puerto Rico, and several European countries.</p>
<p>In 2021, authorities seized video discs and additional items from Holmberg&#8217;s residence in Grand Forks.</p>
<p>Former North Dakota Republican Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner, who served as a lawmaker for the state with Holmberg for nearly 25 years, told The Associated Press if authorities convict Holmberg, his time in public office would &#8220;be forgotten about, and only the negative things will be remembered.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Here&#8217;s a situation where a man was a public servant and did a lot of positive things for the state of North Dakota, and now, I don&#8217;t know what&#8217;s going to come of this thing, but this really neutralizes all the good,&#8221; said Wardner.</p>

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Former North Dakota State Sen. Indicted On Child Sex Abuse Charges

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Former North Dakota State Sen. Indicted On Child Sex Abuse Charges