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U Regents Seeks Legal Advice On Sviggum Dual Jobs

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The chairwoman of the University of Minnesota Board of Regents says she's seeking two legal opinions on whether regent and former state House speaker Steve Sviggum has a conflict of interest with a new Republican staff job at the Capitol.

Chairwoman Linda Cohen says the university legal counsel and an independent Minneapolis attorney will separately render opinions. She says when they're issued, she'll either advise the board to make a decision or assemble a committee to look further into the matter.

Cohen says it appears to her that Sviggum is in conflict between his regent duties and job as chief spokesman for Senate Republicans at the Capitol.

Sviggum did not immediately return an e-mail seeking comment. He previously said he doesn't think the two jobs create a conflict of interest.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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