North Dakota politician accused in peeping incident ends campaign

BISMARCK, N.D. — A North Dakota politician accused in a peeping incident at a college campus announced Sunday he is dropping out of the race for secretary of state.

Will Gardner’s withdrawal from the race came two days after the Fargo Forum reported on the 2006 incident in which he was accused of peeping through a window at a North Dakota State University women’s dormitory.

“In light of recent events, I have decided to withdraw from the election of secretary of state. This is the best decision for my family and me,” Gardner said on his Twitter and Facebook accounts. The 41-year-old Mandan businessman did not immediately return voice or text messages from The Associated Press on Sunday.

Court records show Gardner pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in February 2006 and was given a 30-day suspended jail sentence and fined $225. The Forum reported the charge stemmed from an incident a month earlier in which Gardner, who was 29 at the time, was arrested for peeping in women’s dorm while working as a webmaster at the university’s libraries.

Read more: https://www.twincities.com/2018/05/20/north-dakota-politician-accused-in-peeping-incident-ends-run/

Before anyone asks, Gardner is a Republican.