I don't see how Brodkorb can have much of a case; there are no similar positions of power to the one he held, so comparisons to women staffers seems a stretch. The amount of power and authority he held would seem to be a valid issue for such comparisons, and whether or not the relationship was one involving direct reporting would be as well.
Winning or losing seems secondary to pure revenge for Brodkorb. Apparently he has no shame, but that should come as no surprise; he also doesn't seem to have much going for him in terms of personal ethics or integrity either, just sleaze. That Brodkorb is a thoroughly unsympathetic figure, and to a degree from the way she has responded to being caught, Amy Koch as well, for their refusal genuinely to take responsibility for DOING SOMETHING WRONG seems key to appreciating the flaws in this
litigation.
If the MN GOP majority settles.....it would seem pretty clear they have skeletons in their closet they are trying to cover up, which will come out anyway. If the MN GOP settles, it will show them to be without the moral courage to oppose this shakedown of taxpayer money as well. The actions of two of their key leadership has alread called into question the moral values to which they give loud lip service. Failure on the part of the rest of the party, especially the leadership, to stand up to this suit would only compound that moral failure, especially when it involves accusations of other people sleeping around like sluts. No one hates sex, or feigns hatred of sex as sin unless they are the ones doing it, like the righties.
No one in their right mind should expect Brodkorb to go away quietly with a payoff; he wants to do damage. If the GOP engages in a legal battle, they will face criticism for the expense, as well as the very public focus on their 'values' and 'good governance' failures. Speculation about other scandals being covered up could be worse than the scandals themselves, in eroding confidence and support, even from the most blind party faithful. Brodkorb wants to hurt a lot of people on the right for DARING to hold him accountable for having an affair ....and apparently for being a less than pleasant and cooperative staff member, a claim which this suit only seems to make more credible.
This is a no win for the MN GOP; and apparently Koch doesn't have the political sense to at least pretend to be ashamed of having engaged in adultery, even if she is quitting politics....or is she? But there is no real win possible for Brodkorb in this either; even an unlikely legal award of damages would probably be eaten up by his lawyer's fees. It seems a stupid act of revenge with no real up side for anyone, a classic lose/lose situation. I don't see any way for Brodkorb to get back in the power, if not the good graces of the GOP this way; if he had quietly gone away for a time, he might have made a below the radar return later. But this? Who in their right mind would want to give him a second chance after this? Who would foolishly trust Brodkorb in politics ever again?
Between this scandal and the failure of transparency by the MN GOP not performing an audit to straighten out their financial disaster under Tony Sutton....the fiscal failure of responsibility........and their debt? Who will hear anything the right has to say in the next four months, or care? The family values party has shot itself in the foot with their own hypocrisy; the fiscal responsibility party has shown itself massively irresponsible; and jobs, jobs, jobs, 'its the economy stupid' was a bait and switch for government shut down and endless culture wars and special interest legislation.
Could there be a greater overreach by the MN GOP? It beggars the imagination to see how.
Pop the popcorn; put your feet up, the sex and politics soap opera is on. I'm waiting for the twisty sub plot where the MN GOP try to devise a way to blame this on the Democrats....
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