How can Norm Coleman afford the services of Doug Kelley, the high-profile attorney he just hired on connection with the allegations in the Nasser Kazeminy lawsuit? After all, as Kazeminy himself is alleged to have said: “US senators don’t make shit.”
The answer: he plans to use campaign funds.
“We intend to have any legal fees related to what we believe to be a politically inspired legal action to be covered by the senator’s campaign,” said Coleman spokesman Luke Friedrich, Politico reports.
The FEC allows politicians to use campaign funds only if their legal bills arise from their official duties or their campaigns. Coleman, a Minnesota GOP senator, has claimed that suit only came to light because of his reelection fight, in which he is currently locked in a recount with Democrat Al Franken — though many of the allegations pre-date the campaign.
The lawsuit claims that Kazeminy, a friend and supporter of Coleman, used a company he owns, Deep Marine Technologies, to pass money to the senator by making payments to the insurance broker, Hays Insurance, that employs Laurie Coleman, Norm’s wife.