South Dakota State Senator Accused of Groping Male Page

Hearings are currently being held in Pierre, South Dakota over allegations by former legislative page Austin Wiese that Democratic state senator Dan Sutton groped him inappropriately last February when the two shared a Holiday Express motel room at the beginning of the page's weeklong assignment in the legislature:

"Wiese, who was staying with Sutton because Sutton was a close personal and family friend, told the committee that the two shared a king-sized bed. Sutton touched him repeatedly on the back and hips on the first night, Wiese testified. He said Sutton moved his hand over Wiese's shorts on the second night, resting it over his genitals for 30 seconds to a minute."

Nineteen-year-old Wiese, whose main evidence in the case is a secretly taped conversation by Agent Brian Zeeb of the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation in which there is no clear admission of wrongdoing by Sutton, says that he did not know in advance of his motel room stay with Sutton that there would only be one king-sized bed.

In the inconclusive tape, Sutton tells Wiese he does not recall the incident. Said Sutton: "Well I, I walk in my sleep. I, I move around. I mean Austin, I will do whatever I can. I am, I am sorry and if I. ... Heck, obviously I, obviously I, if you remember, obviously I did it."

Wiese told lawyers on the witness stand that he agreed Sutton never admitted to wrongdoing: "I'll agree with you he never makes a 100 percent (admission). Just these references."

Hearing are scheduled to continue today.

Senator Tim Johnson in Critical Condition after Brain Surgery

Overnight brain surgery on South Dakota Senator Tim Johnson, who was admitted to the hospital yesterday after suffering "stroke-like" symptoms, was reportedly successful, doctors told CNN this morning:

"Johnson, 59, was out of surgery at 12:30 a.m. Thursday, a source close to the senator told CNN. He was hospitalized Wednesday morning after he appeared to suffer stroke-like symptoms.

Adm. John Eisold, attending physician of the U.S. Capitol, told CNN that Johnson had 'an intracerebral bleed caused by a congenital arteriovenous malformation. He underwent successful surgery to evacuate the blood and stabilize the malformation.'

'It is premature to determine whether further surgery will be required or to assess any long term prognosis,' Eisold said."

Johnson remains in critical condition.

Johnson, a Democrat, was elected to the Senate in 1996 after serving five terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Senate Budget Committee, the Senate Banking Committee, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.

If Johnson were unable to serve the rest of his term, South Dakota's Republican Governor Mike Rounds would nominate his replacement which would shift the balance of power in the Senate, giving parties a 50-50 split. The GOP would then retain control with Dick Cheney's tie-breaking vote.