Former ND Insurance Commissioner Jim Poolman Distances Himself from Disgraced State Senator Ray Holmberg
FARGO (KFGO) – Jim Poolman, a former North Dakota Insurance Commissioner and prominent figure within the University of North Dakota Alumni Association, is distancing himself from former state Sen. Ray Holmberg following the latter’s recent legal troubles. In a public statement released Monday, Poolman claimed that he is being unjustly targeted due to his sexual orientation after a photo of him with Holmberg circulated on social media.
Holmberg has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for traveling overseas with the intent of engaging in sexual activities with minors. Poolman, who served as a state representative from 1992 to 2001 and held the insurance commissioner role from 2001 to 2007, clarified that while he had worked with Holmberg, he was unaware of any illegal activities connected to him.
About a year and a half ago, the Department of Homeland Security interviewed Poolman concerning Holmberg but he has not received any further communication from federal authorities since then. “Holmberg’s behavior is indefensible… I never had any indication of his actions,” Poolman asserted, emphasizing that it’s misleading to equate his professional relationship with Holmberg to complicity.
He expressed concern over the dangers of “guilt by association” and encouraged responsible discourse regarding individuals connected to Holmberg, noting that many may have had professional ties without knowledge of his crimes. In his statement, Poolman publicly came out as gay, underscoring that this targeting reflects a broader issue of misinformation and rumor mongering. He stated, “I find it difficult to believe that I am being singled out for any reason other than being a gay man.”
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