Coleman responds to scandal ... by attacking Franken

by: Joe Bodell

Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 07:36:50 AM CDT

Curious that the campaign and its bosses in DC would think this is a good tack to take -- since federal oil policy is set by the White House, does Team Coleman really want to put itself in line to be bound inextricably to George W. Bush's eight-year failure on energy issues?

Meanwhile, DFL Chair Brian Melendez was taking time to ask some serious questions about Coleman's rental deal with Republican political professional Jeff Larson:

"Senator Coleman, can you prove that you are paying fair market value? What research are you using to back up your claim that you are?"

"Coleman's claim that he has access only to his bedroom is simply not credible. In yesterday's National Journal article, Senator Coleman admitted again that he 'shares' the 'living space' with an office - namely the office of FLS-Connect, Jeff Larson's company. And we know from the real-estate listing not only that Coleman's bedroom is 'airy,' but that the basement includes many amenities that Coleman refuses to acknowledge.

"Are we to believe that when Coleman is in the apartment long after the FLS-Connect employee has left, he does not enjoy full use of the rest of the apartment? Why won't Senator Coleman admit that he has full access to the entire apartment?"

Is Senator Coleman paying his share of the utilities and, if so, can he prove it with a bill from Pepco [the utility company], or proof of payment to Pepco? If he is not paying his share, who is paying it for him - and would that subsidy constitute yet another ethics violation?"

...

"Why hasn't Senator Coleman produced a copy of his lease with Jeff Larson, along with any other related written documentation?"

"Senator Coleman, is it fair, when so many Minnesotans are worried about keeping their homes, are facing foreclosure or have been foreclosed on, that you get a cut-rate sweetheart deal from Jeff Larson, one of the most well-connected political operatives in America?"

It's a matter of ethics in government, and this one simply does not pass the smell test.

Now it's a wait-and-see game over the holiday weekend with Senator Barbara Boxer, D-CA, and the rest of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics to see if they decide to investigate this matter.

Desperate GOP tries to spin Coleman rental problem

by: Joe Bodell

Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 18:03:31 PM CDT

Of course, if you read just a shade below the surface, you'll realize that what the GOP isn't saying is as (if not more) important as what they do say: nowhere in that hilarious opposition research dump does the Republican Party of Minnesota deny, refute, or even seek to challenge the veracity of the allegations CREW filed a complaint to investigate.

Raise your hand if you too see that as an admission that they're true. Also raise your hand if you noticed the repeated efforts to spin it as a bipartisan scandal.

Nice try guys. The media isn't biting this time. They're actually going to cover this, because this is a real and serious issue with the way Norm Coleman conducts the business of representing Minnesota in Washington D.C.

CREW files ethics complaint against Coleman

by: Joe Bodell

Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 08:30:00 AM CDT

The Senate gifts rule generally prohibits members and staff from accepting gifts, but has two exceptions under which they may accept lodging: if based on personal friendship or, as long as the giver is not a lobbyist or foreign agent, if the gift constitutes personal hospitality. Because the relationship between Sen. Coleman and Mr. Larson appears to be more business than personal, the gift would not be permitted under the "personal friendship" exception. Because Mr. Larson does not live in the townhouse, but rents it out to others, he is not hosting Sen. Coleman and "the personal hospitality" exception would not apply.

CREW is asking the Senate Ethics Committee to look into whether or not Sen. Coleman is paying fair market value for the apartment, whether Sen. Coleman would have paid the November 2007 and January 2008 rent had National Journal not raised the non-payment as an issue, whether Sen. Coleman and Mr. Larson had agreed that Mr. Larson would not cash the March 2008 rent check, why Sen. Coleman suddenly made up his back rent after National Journal asked questions about it, and why Sen. Coleman's office announced that Ms. Kainz would be leaving the senator's employ after National Journal asked about her role.

CREW's executive director Melanie Sloan stated, "Few Americans have landlords who sometimes fail to cash their rent checks, ignore unpaid rent, or accept furniture in lieu of rent. That Sen. Coleman has just such a landlord, who also happens to financially benefit from his relationship with the senator creates exactly the sort of appearance of impropriety that undermines the public's faith in government." Sloan continued, "Senators must abide by the ethics rules at all times, not just when they get caught flouting them."