Mary Franson dismisses her restraining order against Eric Harpel

Rep. Mary Franson (R-Alexandria) has a knack for keeping her name in the headlines. This time its for dismissing the restraining order she took out against former boyfriend Eric Harpel. Harpel is Chair of the McLeod County Republicans.

"I believe we can handle this issue outside the courtroom and continue working with our attorneys in this matter," Franson wrote in the court filing. "It is my hope that Mr. Harpel can be trusted to continue working through our attorneys to resolve this issue without a courtroom and press."

Franson took our a restraining order against her ex-boyfriend on May 10, saying he "stalked" her, made threats, and sent "lewd" emails after they broke up in January. In a particularly colorful passage from the restraining order filing, Franson writes about what allegedly happened when she asked Harpel about some stuff she left at his place: "I asked him when I could get my belongings and he said he wanted my panties in exchange," she wrote.

(City Pages)

I find this whole sordid tale confusing. On the one hand, I believe that any woman who feels threatened by an Ex should have the law on their side. There are A LOT of ****bags out there who abuse women.

Yet, Franson and her fellow Republicans consistently vote against violence prevention programs and victims services. So I'm glad that our laws in Minnesota to protect women from ****bags haven't been dismantled.

On the other hand, Franson is an evangelical who was living in sin. She also has a propensity to say and do unhinged things. Harpel has always maintained his innocence and demanded his day in court to clear his name.

Maybe higher ups in the MNGOP sat her down or maybe both of them and told them to move on. Maybe Franson made it all up. Maybe Harpel behaved as she claimed.

All I know for certain is that this won't be the last time Mary Franson is in the headlines for something unseemly.