Minot Mayor Resigns After Lewd Video Incident

Tom Ross, the mayor of Minot, North Dakota, resigned after accidentally sending a sexually explicit video to City Attorney Stefanie Stalheim. The incident occurred in January, shortly after Ross and Stalheim discussed a police officer's suicide over the phone. Ross claimed the video was intended for his girlfriend and was sent to Stalheim due to a mix-up in contacts on his phone. Despite requesting Stalheim to delete the video, she filed a formal complaint citing a hostile work environment, leading to an investigation that concluded Ross's actions constituted sexual harassment. Ross took responsibility for the incident, expressing regret and asking for Stalheim's forgiveness. The Minot City Council will appoint a new mayor unless a special election is petitioned by residents within 15 days.