MN State Rep From Oakdale Area 'Sorry' For DWI

OAKDALE, MN — State Rep. Tou Xiong issued an apology Friday after revealing he was pulled over and arrested on Jan. 8 for a suspected DWI in Blaine.

Xiong — a DFL lawmaker whose district includes parts of Woodbury, Maplewood, and Oakdale — said in a statement that he "made a terrible mistake" after leaving a "community gathering" that night.

"I was pulled over by law enforcement for driving under the influence," Xiong said. "My actions are inexcusable, and I sincerely apologize."

"I have a lot of work to do in the coming days, weeks and months to earn back the trust of my constituents and people I've let down, and that will be my focus going forward," he said.

Police did not release any details of Xiong's arrest, including his blood-alcohol content.

He was taken to the Anoka County Jail on Jan. 8 and charged with driving while impaired and operating a motor vehicle with a BAC of more than 0.08, the Star Tribune reports. He was released from the jail later the same day, the report states.

Xiong, who is in his second term as a state representative, is running for the Minnesota State Senate in 2022. His campaign's headquarters are based in Woodbury, according to his website.

Incumbent Sen. Chuck Wiger, DFL-Maplewood, has said he will not seek re-election in 2022.

Xiong is the second high-profile official in the Twin Cities metro to be arrested for DWI in recent months.

Hennepin County Sheriff Dave Hutchinson pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor DWI charge after he was injured Dec. 8 in a rollover crash in his county-owned vehicle. Hutchinson was sentenced to two years of probation and must pay $610 in fines and fees.

The sheriff called his DWI crash a "wake-up call" and said he has since enrolled in an outpatient treatment program to address his issues with alcohol.