State Rep. Jim Knoblach, an influential St. Cloud Republican in his eighth term, has ended his re-election campaign in connection to allegations his daughter made that he inappropriately touched her over a period of time.

Knoblach, who is not resigning his actual House seat, denied the allegations in a statement Friday, calling them “extremely hurtful and untrue.”

He has not been charged with any crime, and authorities have declined to file charges.

Knoblach’s daughter, now grown, made the allegations in a 2016 Facebook post that was taken down shortly after being posted.

Jim Knoblach said he decided to cease his re-election campaign Friday as Minnesota Public Radio News was preparing to broadcast a story on the allegations.

Laura Knoblach detailed to MPR patterns of alleged behavior by her father dating back to when she was 9 years old. The most recent instances were in her 20s.

DETAILS OF ALLEGATIONS

Here are some examples, as Laura Knoblach described them to MPR News:

Her first memory was she was 9, when her father came into her room after she’d gone to bed and laid down behind her. “He would put his arm around me and not let me get up or get away and he would lick my neck or bite my ear,” she said in an MPR interview.

She described routine behaviors that included more than 30 times when he pinned her against the kitchen refrigerator from behind, pressing his body against hers, according to the MPR.

When she was 15, she said her father held her down and asked if she liked kissing and playing, to which she responded yes because she felt she had no choice and was afraid, MPR reported.

In 2015, when she was 20, she described an incident in her backyard. “I was walking back in [and] my dad just grabs me and like throws me up against a car and he basically grabbed each of my wrists and like pinned my wrists above my head and just started like making out slobbering open mouth kisses with tongue on my neck and biting my ear,” she told MPR.

NO CRIMINAL CHARGES

The allegations involved “inappropriate touching, hugging, kissing, none of which involves any private parts or anything that involves criminal sexual conduct,” said Knoblach’s attorney Susan Gaertner, a former Ramsey County Attorney.

The Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office investigated the allegation from January through May of 2017, Gaertner said. Knoblach himself was not questioned personally, as Gaertner said she communicated on his behalf.

Gaertner furnished a letter from Assistant Sherburne County Attorney Dawn Nyhus, dated March, that reads, in part, “we are declining to file charges. There is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that James Michael Knoblach committed a crime.”

MPR reported that Knoblach’s daughter, Laura, now 23, went on the record with the radio station “after exhausting other means to hold her father accountable.” She “supplied extensive documentation about her attempts to get help,” MPR reported.

Shortly after the her 2016 Facebook post, the Pioneer Press attempted to interview Laura Knoblach, but she said she wasn’t ready to talk. The Pioneer Press was unable to reach Laura Knoblach for comment Friday.

MPR quoted a childhood friend, a relative and youth ministry member at her St. Cloud church who said she confided in them at various times. A teacher who learned of what Knoblach had said happened wrote a note to the school principal.

Knoblach reported the behavior to police in the past two years, after attempts at family counseling failed.

Investigatory documents obtained by MPR quoted a St. Cloud police officer telling her that her father’s actions were “really inappropriate but not criminal.”

ELECTION RAMIFICATIONS

Knoblach, who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee, is facing re-election, along with every House member. He’s being challenged by Democrat Dan Wolgamott.

Related Articles Minnesota’s Legal Marijuana Now Party congressional candidate dies; election for 2nd District postponed

To mask or not to mask at MN polling places. Judge hears arguments.

New Brighton Mayor Valerie Johnson suspends bid for re-election

In online U.S. Senate debate, Tina Smith and Jason Lewis at clear odds

Early voting begins in Minnesota: Things to know Early absentee voting began Friday, and state law doesn’t allow Knoblach’s name to be removed from the ballot at this point. There are a few ways an election can be canceled, but none appear to apply here. It wasn’t immediately clear Friday what would happen if Knoblach were to win the election.

Republicans currently hold a 77-57 majority in the House.

House Speaker Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, issued the following statement Friday: “I want to thank Chair Knoblach for his many years of service to the State of Minnesota. I support his decision to suspend his re-election campaign to focus on his family.”

Knoblach described his daughter as estranged from the family and said fighting the allegations “would entail subjecting my wife, son, and elderly parents, as well as my daughter, to six weeks of extreme stress and scrutiny. I’m also not willing to spend six weeks fighting with my daughter in the media. As a result, I feel I have no choice but to effectively end my campaign today so that I can work towards healing my family.”

KNOBLACH’S FULL STATEMENT

On Friday, state Rep. Jim Knoblach released to following statement:

“Our daughter has been estranged from our family for some time. In late 2016 she made some extremely hurtful and untrue accusations on a Facebook post, which was briefly put up and then taken down. These accusations were fully investigated by Sherburne County, dismissed, and the case closed in April 2017.

“I appreciate my wife, my son, our parents and the rest of my family standing with me in the face of these accusations. Last week I learned my daughter had contacted Minnesota Public Radio seven months ago, and that MPR was preparing a story on her allegations. I love my children more than anything, and would never do anything to hurt them. Her allegations are false. I and other family members have made repeated attempts to reconcile with her in recent years, but she has refused.

“I could fight on for another six weeks to defend my reputation while running for re-election. But this would entail subjecting my wife, son, and elderly parents, as well as my daughter, to six weeks of extreme stress and scrutiny. I’m also not willing to spend six weeks fighting with my daughter in the media. As a result, I feel I have no choice but to effectively end my campaign today so that I can work towards healing my family.

“It has been the greatest honor of my life to represent my hometown in the Legislature. I want to thank my many supporters for their years of support. I have done the best I can to represent my district in Saint Paul, and will continue to contribute in other ways. I will now complete the term voters elected me to serve and help constituents who contact me every day.

“As indescribably hurtful as these circumstances are, my wife and I love our daughter, and we look forward to the day when we can somehow again be a happy family.”