Hoffman to Goodwin: "I'm sorry"
Sen. Gretchen Hoffman offered apology, hug to Sen. Barb Goodwin over tweet.
Sen. Barb Goodwin (DFL-50), who represents much of Fridley, got a verbal apology and a hug from Sen. Gretchen Hoffman (R-Vergas) Thursday during Hoffman's farewell speech to the Minnesota Senate.
Hoffman ridiculed Goodwin in a May 2011 tweet from the Senate floor that misconstrued remarks Goodwin had just made in a floor speech.
A Senate ethics committee dropped a complaint against her by another DFL senator in June 2011 after Hoffman agreed to write a formal letter of apology.
But Thursday's apology—and hug—was different.
"I'm sorry from the bottom of my heart," a tearful Hoffman said. "And I wish I said that earlier."
Troy Melhus
10:52 pm on Thursday, May 10, 2012
Wow—sounds sincere. Really interesting that it seems to have been weighing on her mind for all this time. Good for her to apologize, even after all this time.
Chris Steller
5:58 am on Friday, May 11, 2012
I'm trying to locate video of Hoffman's speech--just missed it live. Did you see it? For our coverage last year of the dispute that apparently ended with the apology and hug on Thursday, click on the first link in the article above.
Avonna Starck
10:56 am on Friday, May 11, 2012
Too little too late. Hoffman should have known better in the first place, she is no better than a high school bully. Barb should have received this apology before the situation reached an ethics hearing. I give Barb an A+ for being a class act through this entire thing. Hopefully this is the last we see of Hoffman.