North Dakota Rep. Jeremy Olson (R-Arnegard) resigned his legislative seat on Monday following a harassment complaint filed against him. House Majority Leader Mike Lefor confirmed the complaint was submitted on May 2, the final day of the legislative session, to Senate Minority Leader Kathy Hogan. Though the complaint was withdrawn Sunday after news of Olson’s resignation, concerns about his behavior had been building. Rep. Lori VanWinkle reported observing Olson kiss a legislative employee on the cheek in March, prompting four lawmakers to approach leadership with concerns about alleged inappropriate sexual behavior. Olson, who had already resigned as House majority caucus leader on April 29, denied remembering the alleged incident and claimed he felt targeted by rumors. District 26 Republicans will now appoint a replacement to serve the remainder of Olson’s term through 2028. Legislative leaders indicated the harassment complaint process worked effectively in this case.
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