Limmer: Koch gave 'advice, direction' during leadership meeting

On more than one occasion Tuesday, as Senate Republicans spent the day selecting a new leader behind closed doors, former Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch could be glimpsed in the meeting room at a Roseville hotel. During the 11-hour session, Koch could be seen briefly inside the room as her colleagues entered and exited the meeting. Koch did not appear in public during the meeting, and apparently arrived and then left the hotel through a side door. Senate Republicans would not confirm or deny whether she was present until after Sen. David Senjem, R-Rochester, was chosen as her successor. At least one colleague however said her presence was felt. "She did [talk] off and on throughout the day, giving advice, direction," Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove, said after the meeting. Koch resigned as the Senate's first female majority leader in mid December after being confronted by Senate Republican leaders regarding an alleged inappropriate relationship with a Senate staff member. Koch issued a formal apology afterward, but has not appeared in public and not indicated whether she would resign her Senate seat. During Tuesday's meeting, said Limmer, "she did not say anything" about resigning her seat. After his selection Tuesday, Senjem said however he had asked Koch not to resign. "I urged her not to, and she was non-committal," said Senjem.