BREAKING: Accusations Made Against Seifert!

by: Brian Falldin

Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 10:56:45 AM CDT

UPDATE:  Marty Seifert has responded to Andy's allegations, see his response after the jump.

Note to readers:  Andy Aplikowski removed his original blog post yesterday.  We were able to make a copy of the original post and save it.  Links to his posting are to our archive.  Andy has linked to our archive indicating its validity on his own blog Residual Forces.

According to the conservative blog Residual Forces, operatives close to Rep. Marty Seifert are "trying to tank some of the contenders on Seifert's behalf ... making up rumors about one's marriage."   These references specifically point to the whisper campaign currently underway against Rep. Laura Brod.  Also according to Residual Forces author Andy Aplikowski, the accusations against Rep. Laura Brod are false.  However, he also claims "Seifert's close supporters and Caucus staff are using DFL bloggers like Shawn Towle & Dusty Trice to torpedo Republican candidates with smears and lies."  If these accusations prove true, the implications are significant.  A scandal of this proportion could derail Rep. Seifert's expected gubernatorial campaign launch next week, and create a cloud of suspicion regarding his candidacy and campaign tactics.  Attempts to contact Rep. Seiftert's staff for comment were made.  However, at the time of this publication, Rep. Marty Seiftert has not responded to our requests for comment.

We will provide updates as we learn more about this breaking story.

Dear Brian,

Thank you for contacting me. I have not had another blogger contact me about this, just post items based upon second hand rumors.

I will be brief:

Did you participate in, or are you aware of, any whisper campaign against Rep. Laura Brod? Specifically, a whisper campaign questioning her marriage and accusing her of infidelity?

1) No, I have absolutely not participated in any whisper campaign against Rep. Brod or anyone else. I met with her personally to clarify that and make sure she knew that anyone involved with me would be held to high standards or be fired/thrown off the campaign if proven they were involved in anything like this. No one on my committee has done this with any of my consent or knowledge. If there is some proof of this, I would ask people to come forward with evidence. Otherwise, it is nothing but a reverse smear campaign.

Are any of your staff members involved in opposition research regarding Rep. Laura Brod?

2) No

Will you go on record to deny or to explain these accusations?

3) I just did - there is nothing to this. Anyone continuing to talk about this is in and of themselves, making it an issue. I have done nothing and people around me have said the same. I would ask anyone in question that allegedly has done this to open up to a lie detector test, open up cell and computer records and come clean. Conversely, I would ask all campaigns to stop the gossiping and silliness and move on with real issues. I am running for Governor of Minnesota and this is serious. I have nothing to do with this and will swear upon all my integrity that this repulses me and I have nothing to do with any of it. Anyone who has a question about it should contact me and not post junk based upon hear-say.

Thank you,

mjs

Representative Marty Seifert
267 State Office Building
100 Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155