ST. PAUL — The top Republican in the Minnesota House says he intends to stay in his leadership post and believes he properly handled an incident last September in Montana where a friend pulled out the lawmaker’s loaded handgun after a vehicle purchase went bad.

Rep. Kurt Daudt broke nearly two weeks of silence about the incident Wednesday. He says they confronted the vehicle’s seller with complaints he misrepresented its condition, but says his friend retrieved the gun without his knowledge.

Daudt’s friend, 24-year-old Daniel Weinzetl, faces felony charges.

Daudt says Weinzetl’s family lives near his cabin and that the younger man has helped him previously with odd jobs, including joining him on a previous trip to Montana to buy a vehicle.

Daudt says he has a handgun permit. He says he rarely carries it but brought it for safety on the long road trip.