A powerful former North Dakota lawmaker pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to a charge that he traveled to Europe with the intent to pay for sex with a minor.
Ray Holmberg, 80, of Grand Forks, admitted in court that he had paid young male masseuses, with some of whom he had sexual contact, during multiple visits to the Czech Republic, though he said he did not know for certain how old they were.
Holmberg was indicted in October 2023 for travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual activity and receipt and attempted receipt of child sexual abuse material. The Republican served more than 45 years in the North Dakota Senate before resigning in 2022.
It’s difficult to find an explanation for the partisan support of objectively harmful conservative political movements like restricted health care(public/”free” healthcare is cheaper, saves time, is sustainable) unless(Occam) they care much more about themselves than others and they place their comfort and desires above the comfort of others.
That type of person, who will actively vote against helping others for no practical reason, is the type of person who would victimize a child for any selfish “reason” like their own sexual gratification.
If it benefits them, they don’t care what happens to their victims or anyone else.
That tendency fits perfectly into the conservative political mindset.
It’s the conservative mantra: “me first, and to hell with the rest of 'em!”
I think that you are reading too much into it. The reason they vote against the public good, like universal healthcare, is because they are paid lots of money to do so.
after they become politicians, sure.
This was more about why so many people who become conservative politicians end up getting caught for victimizing others.
the victimizing type of person is naturally drawn toward a group of people that care about themselves or money more than the community or even other people.
If you want to be a politician to make things better for everyone, you join the progressives, but if you want to be a politician to make things better for yourself only, then the conservative party and its values is the obvious group.