A Minnesota good government group that works with Democrats and progressives has called on both the Senate Ethics Committee and the local FBI office to investigate allegations that GOP senator Norm Coleman accepted $75,000 in gifts from a friend and supporter.
Alliance for a Better Minnesota (ABM) is also circulating a petition to demonstrate public support for the desired probes. It will release letters to the FBI and the Senate Ethics Committee at a press conference this afternoon at the state capitol.
The claims against Coleman were made in a lawsuit filed last month against Nasser Kazeminy, a close associate of the senator. The suit, filed by the former CEO of the Kazeminy-owned Deep Marine Technology, alleges that Kazeminy passed money to Coleman’s wife, Laurie Coleman, by ordering Deep Marine to make payments to the Hays Companies, an insurance broker that employed her. Kazeminy and Coleman have denied the claims, and Coleman has not been formally charged with any wrong-doing.
A press release announcing Alliance for a Better Minnesota’s effort was forwarded to TPMmuckraker by the communications office of Minnesota’s Democratic party.
Coleman faces a recount in his high-profile Senate re-election fight against Democrat Al Franken.
Late update: Here are the letters sent by ABM to the FBI and the Senate Ethics Committee.
And here’s a response from Coleman to ABM’s move.