In this Aug. 28, 2019 file photo, House Speaker Lee Chatfield, R-Levering, speaks with reporters on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019, in the House chamber in Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/David Eggert File)

While President Donald Trump still refusing to release the Jeffrey Epstein files, Republicans around the country continue to have a sex crimes problem in all levels of government.

Jim Knoblach (Minnesota)

In 2018, Minnesota state Rep. Jim Knoblach (R-St. Cloud) abruptly ended his intentions to seek a ninth term in office after Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) News reported on allegations of inappropriate touching that the lawmaker’s daughter had made against him.

Knoblach’s daughter, Lauren, accused him of inappropriately touching her from the ages of 9-21. Although a criminal investigation by the St. Cloud Police Department and the Sherburne County Sherriff’s Office investigated the allegations, the inquiry ended in 2017 without enough evidence to convict Knoblach. St. Cloud police officer Trent Fischer stated that the Republican’s actions were “really inappropriate but not criminal.”

Knoblach vehemently denied the allegations in a written statement published by MPR News.

“I love my children more than anything, and would never do anything to hurt them. Her allegations are false,” Knoblach wrote. “I and other family members have made repeated attempts to reconcile with her in recent years, but she has refused.”

Lauren Koblach alleged that her father would routinely climb into her bed or pin her against a wall to bite, lick or kiss her against her will. Some instances she shared included Jim grinding against her and pinning her in a way where she couldn’t escape. After she moved out of her parents home in 2016, Lauren also accused her family of trying to silence her.

Before Knoblach left the Minnesota Legislature, he was the chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees the state’s budget and taxation.

Lee Chatfield (Michigan)

Lee Chatfield served in Michigan’s House of Representatives from 2015-21, serving as the chamber’s speaker for four years. After Chatfield left the Michigan House in 2021 due to term limits, a Lansing City Pulse report from 2022 indicated that Michigan State Police were investigating Chatfield for sexually abusing his sister-in-law Rebekah.

The alleged abuse began when the girl was in high school and continued after she married Chatfield’s brother. Chatfield, who is married with five children, admitted to having multiple affairs, including with his sister-in-law, but he denied the abuse allegations.

After Rebekah publicly came forward with her allegations, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel opened a probe into Chatfield’s behavior. Although the sexual assault probe was closed last year, the investigation led to Nessel to charging Chatfield with 13 felony charges, including embezzlement of funds and conducting a criminal conspiracy. As of May, Chatfield and his wife Stephanie are to stand trial for these crimes.

Nessel credited Rebekah for prompting the lengthy investigation, but her team was unable to produce evidence to prove the sexual abuse allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.

Justin Eichorn (Minnesota)

On March 17, Minnesota state Sen. Justin Eichorn (R-Grand Rapids) was arrested by the Bloomington Police Department in a sting operation. The 40-year-old GOP lawmaker, who is the father of four children, was communicating for several days with an undercover police officer posing as a 17-year-old girl. In the exchanges, Eichorn reportedly inquired about the price of different sexual services and requested pictures. Officers found two cellphones, a condom and $130 in cash in Eichorn’s possession when he was detained.

Three days after his arrest, Eichorn sent his letter of resignation to Gov. Tim Walz (DFL) after several of his colleagues demanded he do so. A federal court charged Eichorn of attempting to coerce and entice a minor to engage in prostitution. As of April 21, Eichorn was released into a halfway house in Duluth, Minn., and he pleaded not guilty during a hearing in April.

In an attempt to dismiss Eichorn’s charges, the former lawmaker’s attorneys argued that federal prosecutors were targeting him because he was an elected official.

“Eichorn was not charged because he held public office,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. “He was charged because, just like the three other people apprehended in this sting who now face federal charges … Eichorn tried to buy sex from a child.”

Eichorn could face up to 10 years in prison if he is found guilty. His next hearing is scheduled for August 8.

Rodney Creech (Ohio)

In May, Ohio state Rep. Rodney Creech (R-West Alexandria) was sanctioned by the Ohio House of Representatives and asked to resign by House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) after sexual abuse allegations. Huffman also stripped Creech of his committee assignments after the lawmaker was accused to inappropriately touching an underaged member of his family.

Documents from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations (OBI) from 2023, which were obtained by Dayton Daily News, show that Creech admitted to climbing into the minor’s bed in his underwear, but he denied the abuse allegations. In a statement, Creech also compared himself to Trump, who has been found liable of sexual abuse in a court of law.

“These allegations have been found to be demonstrably false, and I have already begun pursuing legal action against those who are pushing this filth,” Creech said in a statement. “Like President Trump, I am no stranger to false media attacks.”

OBI’s investigation into Creech’s behavior was closed last October with no criminal charges brought on the advice from Clark County Prosecutor Daniel Driscoll. After reviewing the case, Driscoll did note that Creech displayed “concerning” behavior, but there was not enough evidence needed to prosecute.

“However, the evidence falls short of the threshold needed for prosecution,” Driscoll wrote. “At this point, I consider the case closed.”

Creech did not resign from office and instead announced his candidacy for the Ohio Senate for 2026.

Ray Everett Holmberg (North Dakota)

After a 46-year career in the North Dakota Senate, Ray Everett Holmberg resigned in 2022 when an investigation into his child sex crimes began. After his home was searched by law enforcement, an email exchange sent by Holmberg was found to have read, “No one is ever too young …remember Prague.”

According to court records, Holmberg reportedly traveled to Prague 14 times between 2011 and 2021 to procure a brothel catered to men seeking sexual contact with adolescent boys. At least some of these trips were subsidized with taxpayer money.

On August 8, 2024, Holmberg plead guilty to traveling in foreign commerce for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual activity. In March, Holmberg, who is 81 years old, was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Before his resignation, Holmberg was a powerful legislator in North Dakota who served as the chair of Senate Appropriations Committee for several years, which oversees the state’s budgets. Holmberg also chaired the Legislative Management panel, which oversees the legislature’s business between sessions. This position reportedly allowed Holmberg to approve his own travel to Europe.

Mike Folmer (Pennsylvania)

Former Pennsylvania state Sen. Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon) was arrested on child pornography charges in September 2019. The lawmaker resigned from office the next day.

In February 2020, Folmer pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communications facility. He was sentenced to one to two years in county jail plus eight years on probation. He was then released in July 2021, when his mandatory 15-year sex-offender status began.