State Senator Sent Image Of Male Genitalia Over Snapchat: Staffer

A Minnesota Senate staffer filed a formal complaint Tuesday alleging that Democratic state Sen. Dan Schoen sent her an image of a penis in 2015. After filing her complaint with the Senate human resources department, Ellen Anderson told Minnesota Public Radio that Schoen, a Democrat from St. Paul Park, sent her the image over Snapchat.

Schoen's attorney, Paul Rogesheske, denied the claim, telling the radio station, "He never took pictures of his genitals and sent them to anybody. It's perplexing.” Rogesheske said he will address the complaint “as it comes.”

The allegation comes the week after Schoen was accused of sexual harassment and groping one woman from behind. The Senator told MinnPost those allegations were “either completely false or have been taken far out of context.”

In the latest allegation, Anderson, who serves as the media relations specialist for the Senate, said she was at a party over Memorial Day weekend in 2015 when she received the image from Schoen. Lyssa Leitner, a friend of Anderson, told MPR she saw the image as well: "I said, 'Were you expecting that? Had that happened before?' She said, 'Nope, that was unexpected.'"

"Clearly I do remember her yelping in an 'oh my gosh' type moment,” Leitner added.

According to Anderson, the incident happened after she and Schoen, then a House legislator, became friends. They would frequently exchange texts and Snapchats. Schoen was elected to the Senate in 2016.

“I knew it crossed the line, but at the time, I assumed it was a one-time error in judgment,” Anderson told KMSP. “The disturbing news of the past week makes it clear that was not the case. I felt it necessary to speak out because it is evident to me that Sen. Schoen has a pattern of inappropriate sexual interactions with colleagues and staff.”

Also read: Minnesota State Senator Accused Of Sexually Harassing Women

Image via Minnesota State Senate