The former Republican official pleaded not guilty to all the charges. He will face trial on December 5
Former North Dakota GOP state senator Ray Holmberg, 79, has been charged with traveling to the Czech Republic with the intent to rape a minor and receiving child sexual abuse images. The federal indictment, which was unsealed on Monday, accuses Holmberg of repeatedly traveling to Prague between June 2011 and November 2016 for the purpose of paying for sex with a person under 18 years old. If convicted, Holmberg could face severe consequences, including the potential erasure of his decades-long career in public service.
In addition to the charge of traveling with the intent to rape a minor, Holmberg is also charged with one count of receiving and attempting to receive images depicting child sexual abuse.
The evidence against former North Dakota GOP state senator Ray Holmberg, 79, includes:
- Text message exchanges: Holmberg’s resignation last year came after local media outlet The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead revealed that he had exchanged dozens of text messages with a person who was jailed on charges related to child sexual abuse images.
- Travel records: An Associated Press review of Holmberg’s travel records showed that he was reimbursed roughly $126,000 for nearly 70 out-of-state trips from 2013 to mid-April 2022, including visits to four dozen U.S. cities, China, Canada, Puerto Rico, and several European countries. This information may be used to support the allegation that he traveled to Prague with the intent to commit the alleged crimes.
- Indictment: The federal indictment filed in North Dakota on Thursday accuses Holmberg of traveling from his home state to the Czech Republic between June 2011 and November 2016 with the purpose of paying for sex with a person under the age of 18. The indictment also charges him with one count of receiving and attempting to receive images depicting child sexual abuse.
As a retired school counselor, he chaired the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, which is responsible for writing budgets. An Associated Press review of his travel records revealed that he was reimbursed approximately $126,000 for nearly 70 out-of-state trips from 2013 to mid-April 2022, including visits to four dozen U.S. cities, China, Canada, Puerto Rico, and several European countries.
Holmberg was arrested on Monday and released after pleading not guilty to the charges in U.S. District Court in Fargo. His trial is scheduled for December 5. Holmberg’s attorney, Mark Friese, has not yet commented on the case.
