Ex-Minn. Senate aide sues over firing after affair

ST. PAUL, Minn. – A former Minnesota Senate aide is suing the state saying he was unfairly fired over his affair with a top Republican leader and is the victim of gender discrimination.

Thirty-eight-year-old Michael Brodkorb was fired in December from his $90,000-a-year job as the majority GOP caucus' communications director after having an affair with then-Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch.

The lawsuit Brodkorb filed Monday claims female employees involved in similar workplace affairs didn't lose their jobs and he should have been allowed to transfer to another position.

His lawsuit is seeking at least $50,000, although his attorneys say they hope to get at least $500,000.

Koch resigned from her leadership post after the affair surfaced and declared she wouldn't seek another term this fall.