State Senator Scott Jensen, who’s also a physician, believes he knows why the Minnesota Board of Medical Practices is investigating him.
“At the risk of sounding political myself, yes, I think this is definitely politically motivated,” the Republican from Chaska, who represents Minnesota's 47th District, told Dave Lee on the WCCO Morning News.
Jensen revealed the investigation over the weekend in a post on his Facebook page, saying he’s accused of spreading misinformation and providing reckless advice.
The accusations stem from a news program interview where Jensen disputed government-reported coronavirus fatality rates.
“I was taken aback (by the investigation),” Jensen said. “But, in retrospect maybe I should have expected it, because it seems that it’s almost a sign of the times that we seem less and less inclined to have conversations, and it seems like things turn immediately towards anger and contempt towards someone who doesn’t agree with you.”
He also says he’s fully cooperating with the probe.
“This is something that I need to be transparent about,” he said. “I think the public wants to know what’s going on.”
Jensen said it all started April 7 when he appeared on a local television program in Fargo, N.D., stating that health officials “skewed” coronavirus death figures, and that fear is a way to control people.
The following day Jensen was interviewed by Laura Ingraham on FOX News, where he claimed hospitals get paid more if Medicare patients are listed as having COVID-19 and get three times as much money if they need a ventilator.
Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcom responded by saying that no one was trying to inflate numbers.
Jensen said his comments were taken out of context by others.
The comments came at a time when Minnesota had yet to report 100 COVID-19 deaths. The most recent number of fatal cases in the state, three months later, is more than 1,400.
Jensen said he was notified about the investigation in late June, and he doesn’t know who initiated the probe.
“The Board of Medical Practice does important work,” Jensen told WCCO radio. “We know that we have physicians that cross the line. I’m definitely going to cooperate.”
Jensen said he has submitted a response to the board, and a committee reviewing that statement will decide the next step.
Last year, Jensen said he would not seek re-election to the seat he has held since 2016.
District 47 covers the western Twin Cities.