Klobuchar mourns the loss of stepsister

Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s (D-Minn.) stepsister died last week after drowning in the Mississippi River.

Katharine Wilkes, 35, of Minneapolis, had been missing for seven days when a lock-and-dam worker spotted her body, according to authorities.

Wilke’s mother, Susan Wilkes, is married to Klobuchar’s father, Jim Klobuchar, a well-known sports journalist and author.

Susan Wilkes told the local CBS affiliate there was “no indication of foul play or Katharine hurting herself.” Katharine Wilkes had struggled with bipolar disorder for 12 years.

Erikka Knuti, a spokeswoman for Klobuchar, told ITK “the senator flew back home late last week and spent time with her father and his wife.”

ITK offers condolences to the senator and her family.