TPMMuckraker Senate Ethics Committee
John Edwards
With Reports Of An Imminent Indictment, John Edwards' Attorney Issues Defiant Statement
Rielle Hunter with her baby, and John Edwards
After reports that Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) is on the verge of being indicted for using campaign funds to cover-up an extramarital affair, his attorney Wednesday issued a defiant statement impugning the legal underpinnings of the government's case.
The statement suggests that Edwards, a onetime presidential contender, is either taking a firm stand in plea negotiations or outright fighting the charges and will opt for a trial instead of agreeing to plead guilty for a lesser charge.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Election 2008, Federal Election Commission, John Edwards, John Ensign, Rielle Hunter, Senate Ethics Committee
John Ensign
Ensign Called Parents' Payment To Lover 'Severance' Until Lawyer Told Him Not To
If you asked former Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) about that $96,000 his parents gave to his mistress and her husband, he would say it wasn't a form of severance, it was simply a generous gift. But that wasn't what he called it originally.
The Senate Ethics Committee's report on Ensign's ethics violations reveals that Ensign himself called the $96,000 payout a "severance" in a draft version of his 2009 statement on his affair until his lawyer told him that wasn't such a good idea.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Chris Gober, Cindy Hampton, Doug Hampton, FEC, John Ensign, Rebecca Fisher, Senate Ethics Committee, Tony Mazzola
John Ensign
Point By Point: Senate Ethics Committee's Findings In John Ensign Case
Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)
The Senate Ethic Committee's report on former Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) makes several findings about the Nevada Republican's affair with the wife of his former chief of staff.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: John Ensign, Senate Ethics Committee
John Ensign
Reid: Ethics Committee Is 'Obligated' To Issue Ensign Report
Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) was traveling on an official trip to China last week when his scandal-scarred Nevada GOP colleague, John Ensign, announced his resignation so he hasn't had a chance to comment until now.
Reid told reporters on a conference call Wednesday that he thinks the Senate Ethics Committee will issue a final report on the charges surrounding Ensign's affair with a top staffer's wife and the creative steps he took to keep it quiet.
In fact, he said, the panel doesn't have a choice.
"They are obligated to come up with a report," he said, noting that he had previously served as chairman of the ethics panel for many years.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Cynthia Hampton, Doug Hampton, Ethics, Harry Reid, John Ensign, Justice Department, Senate Ethics Committee
John Ensign
Ensign Still On The Ethics Hook After Resigning
Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)
Scandal-scarred Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) may have hoped resigning would keep quiet unsavory details and new charges surrounding his affair with a top staffer's wife, but he's not off the hook yet.
The Senate Ethics Committee issued a rare statement Friday signaling it would continue its investigation of Ensign's affair and steps he took to keep it quiet despite having formally resigned his Senate seat. Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA), the top Democrat and Republican on the panel respectively, said his resignation is "appropriate" and indicated they would wrap up work on the probe as soon as possible.
"The Senate Ethics Committee has worked diligently for nearly 22 months on this matter and will complete its work in a timely fashion," they said in the statement.
Topics: Cynthia Hampton, Douglas Hampton, Ethics, Ethics Panel, House Ethics Committee, John Ensign, Office of Congressional Ethics, Senate Ethics Committee
John Ensign
Former Ensign Love Triangle Aide Indicted For Post-Senate Lobbying
Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)
Federal prosecutors have charged the husband of Sen. John Ensign's (R-NV) former mistress with breaking criminal revolving-door lobbying laws.
The indictment, issued Thursday afternoon, charges Doug Hampton, a former top aide to Ensign, with seven counts of violating conflict-of-interest laws, according to a Justice Department release.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Conflict of Interest, Congress, Cynthia Hampton, Department of Justice, Douglas Hampton, John Ensign, Lobbyists, Republicans, Senate Ethics Committee
John Ensign
Watchdogs to Ethics Panel: Keep Pursuing Ensign Hush Money Case
Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)
Watchdogs are calling on the Senate Ethics Committee to continue digging into the hush money case against Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) despite his decision not to run for reelection.
The Ethics Committee last month announced the appointment a special prosecutor to lead the investigation into activities surrounding Ensign's affair with a political staffer because the panel was finding it too difficult to pursue the case. But ethics committees don't have jurisdiction over senators and members once they leave the House and Senate, and often the panels decide to drop their cases against lawmakers who announce their retirements and are heading out the door.
Topics: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), CREW, Cynthia Hampton, Douglas Hampton, Ethics, Ethics Panel, John Ensign, Senate Ethics Committee, Senators
John Ensign
Senate Ethics Committee Moves Forward In Ensign Investigation
Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)
The Senate Ethics Committee has appointed a special counsel to handle the committee's preliminary investigation into Sen. John Ensign (R-NV).
The committee announced today that it has hired Carol Elder Bruce, a partner at K&L Gates LLP. Bruce will lead the investigation into whether Ensign broke Senate rules and/or federal law.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (2)Topics: John Ensign, Lobbyists, Senate Ethics Committee, Sex
Chris Dodd
Senate Ethics Committee Dismisses Complaint Against Dodd
Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT)
Outgoing Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) is catching a break just in time for the new year, after the Senate Ethics Panel dismissed a complaint against him.
Judicial Watch -- a conservative public interest group -- filed the complaint against Dodd, saying he "assisted a longtime friend and associate to obtain a reduced sentence and ultimately a full presidential pardon from President Clinton for tax and securities crimes, in exchange for gifts."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)Topics: Chris Dodd, Judicial Watch , Senate Ethics Committee
John Ensign
FEC Ignored Its General Counsel In Letting Ensign Off The Hook
Former Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)
When the Federal Election Commission decided in November to close a complaint against Sen. John Ensign (R-NV), it ignored the recommendation of its general counsel.
According to just-released documents, in March the general counsel -- a non-partisan office of the FEC -- found that there was "reason to believe" that Ensign's parents had broken campaign finance law by giving the family of Ensign's former mistress and staffer $96,000 in April 2008.
That means the general counsel believed that a further investigation was warranted. In November, the full commission, which is made up of partisan commissioners, declined to do a further investigation and closed the matter. The FEC is not bound to follow the recommendations of its general counsel.
You can read the general counsel's report here (PDF).
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Campaign Finance, Cynthia Hampton, Doug Hampton, FEC, John Ensign, Justice Department, Senate Ethics Committee
John Ensign
Ensign Staffers Allowed To Testify Before Grand Jury
Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)
Staffers for Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) are expected to testify before a grand jury on their boss's sex-and-lobbying scandal.
The Senate this week approved a resolution allowing the staffers to speak to the grand jury. Senate employees are normally prohibited from testifying outside of Congress.
Ensign's staff has reportedly already been speaking to the Senate ethics committee, and Ensign's campaign is paying for several of their related legal bills.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (4)Topics: Ethics, John Ensign, Nevada , Senate Ethics Committee
John Ensign
Coburn Turns Over Emails To Feds Investigating Ensign Scandal
Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK) and Senator John Ensign (R-NV)
Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) -- who acknowledged last year that he acted as an "intermediary" between Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) and Doug Hampton, the man with whose wife the Nevada senator had an affair -- has turned over emails to the feds who are investigating Ensign's affair, Politico reports.
Coburn and Ensign were roommates at a Christian house on C Street at the time of the affair.
Coburn didn't tell Politico what's contained in the emails -- but said "there weren't many."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (3)Topics: John Ensign, Justice Department, Senate Ethics Committee, Sex, Tom Coburn
John Ensign
Ensign Is Paying Staffers' Legal Bills
Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)
Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) is paying the legal bills of some of his staff as they face questioning over Ensign's sex-and-lobbying scandal.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports today that the payments to law firms are listed on Ensign's campaign's latest FEC reports. Questioned about the payments, Ensign's spokeswoman confirmed that they were for staff members.
"Senator Ensign's campaign is paying for the legal bills accrued by staff as a result of cooperating with the ongoing ethics investigation," spokeswoman Jennifer Cooper told the Review-Journal.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: FEC, John Ensign, Lobbyists, Nevada , Senate Ethics Committee, Sex
John Ensign
Report: Staffers Tell Ethics Panel Ensign Knew He Was Breaking Lobbying Ban
Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)
The Hill reports that staffers for Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) have told the Senate Ethics Committee that their boss knew he was breaking a one-year lobbying ban when he helped a former staffer set himself up as a lobbyist.
In depositions to the committee, Ensign's staffers said several aides openly discussed helping to get lobbying gigs for former staffer Doug Hampton, after Ensign had an affair with Hampton's wife. The aides also discussed that such help apparently violated a one-year ban on Congressional staffers moving to K Street, sources close to the investigation told The Hill.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (2)Topics: Department of Justice, Doug Hampton, John Ensign, Lobbyists, Nevada , Republicans, Senate Ethics Committee
John Ensign
Mulling Re-Election Bid Despite Scandal, Ensign Gears Up Fundraising
Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)
After everything that's come out about Sen. John Ensign (R-NV), it seems implausible that he could run for office again. But he may be thinking about doing just that.
The Nevada Republican has been planning fundraisers and making calls to donors, with a view to a possible re-election bid in 2012, reports the Los Angeles Times.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)Topics: Doug Hampton, Fundraising, John Ensign, Justice Department, Senate Ethics Committee, Sex
John Ensign
What Happens In Vegas: Senate Investigators Interview Witnesses In Ensign Probe
Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)
The Senate Ethics committee's investigation of the John Ensign sex-and-lobbying scandal is in full swing.
Investigators for the panel were holed up in a Las Vegas hotel yesterday, where they interviewed several key figures in the case, KLAS-TV reports. A woman "who looks just like" Cynthia Hampton, Ensign's former mistress, was seen entering the hotel, accompanied by her husband's lawyer, Dan Albregts, says the station. She stayed for two hours.
Topics: Doug Hampton, John Ensign, Justice Department, Las Vegas, NRSC, R&R Partners, Republicans, Senate Ethics Committee, Sig Rogich
John Ensign
Ensign Asked Top Nevada GOP Consultant To Meet With Hampton
Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)
Add another name to the list of people Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) approached in his desperate bid to find a job for Doug Hampton after sleeping with Hampton's wife.
Sig Rogich, a veteran Nevada GOP political consultant met with investigators, and told them that he had a meeting with Hampton after "Ensign had asked me to meet him," according to what Rogich told Politico. "I told [Hampton] at a 10-minute meeting I did not have" a job for him, Rogich, a former Reagan administration communications aide, added. "That was it basically."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (4)Topics: John Ensign, Justice Department, Senate Ethics Committee, Sex, Sig Rogich
John Ensign
Report: Firms Linked To Possible Ensign Quid Pro Quo Subpoenaed
Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)
The Las Vegas news station adds more details about who has been contacted by investigators looking into the John Ensign sex-and-lobbying scandal.
Perhaps most significantly, it reports that "[e]xecutives at card companies eCommLink, Selling Source and Pay Card USA have been served by the grand jury."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (5)Topics: Doug Hampton, John Ensign, Justice Department, Lobbyists, Senate Ethics Committee, Sex
John Ensign
Report: Senate's Ensign Probe Heating Up
Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)
Jon Ralston, the Nevada political columnist who has been all over the John Ensign story, reports in his email newsletter that the Senate Ethics probe of the matter is heating up.
Writes Ralston:
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (4)Topics: Doug Hampton, John Ensign, Senate Ethics Committee, Sex
Secret Holds
Watchdog Calls For End To Secret Holds
Few of the arcane traditions and privileges enjoyed by U.S. senators fly in the face of the principles of accountability and transparency as blatantly as the secret hold -- the legislative technique whereby a single lawmaker can scuttle a nomination or pending legislation anonymously.
As TPM readers know, we've tracked a number of secret holds in recent years, with the goal of bringing the lawmaker's identity to light. In 2006, for instance, we enlisted readers' help in identifying the senator who had placed a secret hold on legislation to make a searchable database of government grants and contracts.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (5)Topics: CREW, Ethics Panel, Secret Holds, Senate Ethics Committee
John Ensign
Ethics Probers Still Haven't Talked To Hampton On Ensign Matter
Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)
Last night, Nightline aired its full interview with Doug Hampton, about the amazing circumstances surrounding the affair between Hampton's wife Cindy and his former boss, Sen. John Ensign (R-NV).
Some of the best stuff trickled out early, but there are still a few good new nuggets. For instance:
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)Topics: Doug Hampton, John Ensign, Lobbyists, Senate Ethics Committee, Sex
Roland Burris
Senate Ethics Panel Admonishes Burris Over Blago Dealings, Moves On
Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL)
In a letter of qualified admonishment released today, the Senate ethics panel criticizes Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL) for his "inconsistent, incomplete and misleading" testimony surrounding discussions with Gov. Rod Blagoveich's brother and associates before Burris' appointment last year.
The full letter, which the Washington Post observes is the mildest form of rebuke in the panel's quiver, is here.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)Topics: Barack Obama, Rod Blagojevich, Roland Burris, Senate Ethics Committee
Mary Landrieu
Landrieu Camp Mum On $25K "Donation" To U.S.
Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
So here's an intriguing mystery...
Why did Sen. Mary Landrieu's campaign last year donate $25,300 to the U.S. Treasury Department? The donation was buried in the campaign's lengthy FEC report, from which it was picked out by CREW, the tireless good-government watchdog.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (4)Topics: CREW, Mary Landrieu, Senate Ethics Committee, Treasury Department
John Ensign
Criminal Probe Of Ensign Seen As Likely
Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)
Could the worst be still to come for John Ensign?
An expert consensus may be forming that the Justice Department will likely launch a criminal investigation into the philandering Nevada senator and his relationship with Doug and Cynthia Hampton.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (6)Topics: Doug Hampton, John Ensign, Justice Department, Scooter Libby, Senate Ethics Committee, Sex
John Ensign
Ensign: I Followed Ethics Laws When I Helped Clients Of Mistress's Husband
Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)
The John Ensign story is back on the front-burner, thanks to last week's New York Times report that the philandering Nevada senator actively helped Doug Hampton, the husband of his former mistress, get set up as a lobbyist, then acted to benefit Hampton's new clients.
Today brought several new developments:
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (2)Topics: Doug Hampton, John Ensign, Justice Department, Lobbyists, Senate Ethics Committee, Sex, Tom Coburn
John Ensign
Ensign: I'll Cooperate With Ethics Probe Into Help For Mistress's Husband
Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)
Disgraced Nevada senator John Ensign won't fight the ethics investigation into his dealings with a former staffer, in the aftermath of an affair between Ensign and the staffer's wife.
"Sen. Ensign will cooperate with any official inquiry," a spokeswoman for the senator told TPMmuckraker via email.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barbara Boxer, Doug Hampton, John Ensign, Lobbyists, Senate Ethics Committee, Sex
John Ensign
Nevada GOP Rep: Ensign Should Answer Questions About Affair
The pressure is growing for John Ensign to break his silence over his affair with a staffer who was his close friend's wife.
Rep. Dean Heller has become the first high-ranking Nevada Republican to call for the senator to address the numerous unanswered question about his torrid liaison with Cindy Hampton. Speaking in a televised interview to Las Vegas Sun political columnist Jon Ralston -- who has led the way in keeping the story in the spotlight -- Heller said: "I don't want to speculate, but until John talks, we haven't seen the end of it."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (5)Topics: FEC, John Ensign, Senate Ethics Committee, Sex
John Ensign
WaPo Wants Senate And FEC To Probe Ensign Scandal
The drip-drip of the John Ensign sex scandal continues...
Today the Washington Post editorial board calls, in its well-mannered way, for investigations by the Senate Ethnics committee and the Federal Election Committee into the payments, totaling $96,000, that, according to a statement from Ensign's lawyer, were made last year by the Nevada senator's parents to the Hampton family.
Topics: FEC, Fred Hiatt, John Ensign, Senate Ethics Committee, Sex
Tom Coburn
Coburn On Hampton Claims: "Ask What's the Motivation Here"
It looks like when Tom Coburn denied today that he urged his friend John Ensign to pay restitution to the family of the woman he had an affair with, the Oklahoma senator wasn't speaking just to Roll Call (sub. req.). Rather, in a sign of the potential trouble the story could represent for Coburn, he appears to have given an impromptu press conference, in what's likely to be a failed effort to nip it in the bud.
Politico reports that, along with his denial, Coburn had some choice words for Doug Hampton.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (4)Topics: John Ensign, Justice Department, Senate Ethics Committee, Sex, Tom Coburn
John Ensign
CREW Wants Ethics Probe Of Ensign Affair
Could John Ensign face a Senate probe into the events surrounding his affair with a former staffer?
The government watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has said it will file a complaint about the philandering Nevada lawmaker with the Senate Ethics committee, centering on whether either Cynthia Hampton or her husband Doug lost their jobs with Ensign because of the affair. Doug Hampton wrote in a letter to Fox News that the affair "led to our dismissal in April of 2008."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)Topics: John Ensign, Senate Ethics Committee, Sex
Roland Burris
Burris' Day: Two Perjury Probes, and Calls For Resignation
Yesterday was not a good day for Roland Burris.
First, he admitted that, contradicting the impression he had left over the weekend, he had tried to raise money for Rod Blagojevich after a conversation with the then-governor's brother. (That acknowledgement came on the heels of an affidavit Burris filed earlier this month which itself contradicted his sworn testimony to the legislature about conversations with Blagojevich's circle.)
Then, we learned that two investigations have been launched into the new senator's shifting explanations. One is described by the Chicago Tribune as "a perjury review," being conducted by John Schmidt, the local prosecutor in Springfield, and a Republican. Schmidt said he was acting on a request from Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan.
And the Senate ethics committee opened its own probe into the perjury question yesterday, The Hill confirmed.
Then late last night, the Tribune and the Washington Post went live with editorials calling on Burris to resign.
Like we said, not a good day.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (8)Topics: Rod Blagojevich, Roland Burris, Senate Ethics Committee
Norm Coleman
Coleman's Office Won't Say Whether He's Under Investigation In Kazeminy Case
Is Norm Coleman under investigation in connection with the claims made in a lawsuit alleging that a longtime supporter, Nasser Kazeminy, used an insurance company that employs Coleman's wife to illegally pass money to Coleman?
Could be...
Last month, a Minnesota good-government group sent letters to the FBI and the Senate ethics committee, calling on both to investigate the charges. Coleman quickly responded by declaring in a statement:
I not only welcome such an investigation, but I am eager to have it move forward immediately.
That forthright response made us wonder whether Coleman -- who currently is locked in a knife-edge recount with Democrat Al Franken to hold onto his Senate seat -- might already have been contacted by investigators, and was trying to get out ahead of the news by appearing to welcome a probe.
Both the FBI and the ethics committee have declined to provide any information about whether they're looking into Coleman.
So we've been calling Coleman's office to ask whether he's heard from investigators. In fact, in the last few weeks, we've left at least ten detailed voicemail messages for Leroy Coleman, the senator's Washington press secretary (and no relation) asking exactly that question. And we've received no response whatsoever.
Which is sort of curious. You'd assume that, had Coleman not been contacted, his press secretary would take 30 seconds to call us back and tell us that.
Draw your own conclusions...
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (16)Topics: FBI, Nasser Kazeminy, Norm Coleman, Senate Ethics Committee
Norm Coleman
Coleman's NRSC Decision Benefits Ethics Chair -- Who Could Head Coleman Probe
A good catch by The Huffington Post yesterday, in response to the news that Norm Coleman is dropping out of the race for chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) to focus on the Minnesota recount -- and is throwing his support behind John Cornyn, who will almost certainly now win the post.
HuffPo notes that Cornyn, of Texas, is also currently the GOP chair of the Senate Ethics Committee - the body that could well investigate whether Coleman accepted gifts from his longtime supporter Nasser Kazeminy.
Earlier this week, the Alliance for a Better Minnesota, a good-government group that ran anti-Coleman ads during the election, publicly called on the Ethics Committee, as well as the FBI, to look into sworn allegations, made in a lawsuit, that Kazeminy passed $75,000 to Coleman by having one of Kazeminy's companies make payments to an insurance brokerage that employs Laurie Coleman, the senator's wife.
So Coleman's decision to drop out of the NRSC race directly benefits one of the people who will have the most influence over the direction of any investigation by the Ethics Committee.
Coleman's Senate office has not responded to numerous requests from TPMmuckraker to comment on whether he has already been contacted by investigators.
But there's another wrinkle beyond HuffPo's catch: But for the GOP chair of the supposedly non-partisan Ethics Commitee to also serve as head of the NRSC -- an explicitly political post -- might appear to present a conflict of interest.
Cornyn's office did not immediately respond to a call from TPMmuckraker asking whether Cornyn intended to serve in both roles at once.
Topics: Nasser Kazeminy, Norm Coleman, Senate Ethics Committee
Norm Coleman
Taking Stock Of The Coleman-Kazeminy Charges
As Norm Coleman gets set for a recount in his bid to hold onto his Minnesota Senate seat, it's worth considering where things stand on the allegations that surfaced in the waning days of the campaign about Coleman's relationship with his friend and longtime associate, the businessman Nasser Kazeminy.
Here's what we know:
Late last month, in a suit filed in Texas, Paul McKim, the former CEO of Deep Marine Technologies (DMT), alleged in a sworn statement that Kazeminy -- who owns DMT -- directed him to make payments totaling $75,000 to the Hays Companies, a Minnesota insurance brokerage that employs Coleman's wife Laurie Coleman. The payments, claimed McKim in the suit, were not for legitimate work performed by Hays for DMT, but rather were a way for Kazeminy to funnel money to Coleman.
Soon afterwards, a group of DMT investors filed a separate suit naming both Kazeminy and McKim as defendants, and making similar allegations.
Since news of the suits surfaced in late October, none of the principals has offered responses that have put the matter to rest.
Coleman has vehemently denied the charges, and even cut a last-minute TV ad suggesting, with little evidence, that the campaign of his opponent, Democrat Al Franken, was behind them. And yesterday, when a progressive Minnesota watchdog group that ran ads attacking Coleman during the campaign held a press conference at which it called for investigations by the FBI and the Senate Ethics Committee into the matter, Coleman quickly said in a statement that he would welcome such probes, and that he wanted them to start "immediately." (Coleman's Senate office did not immediately respond to a detailed message from TPMmuckraker asking whether he has already been contacted by investigators.)
But neither Norm Coleman nor Laurie Coleman have offered details on the nature of her work for Hays.
Neither has Hays. Soon after news of the allegations broke, the company put out a statement calling the charges "libelous and defamatory." It said that Laurie Coleman "has been an Independent Contractor for Hays Companies since 2006," but offered no further detail on what she does for the company, beyond saying that she "receives no compensation related to the services we provide for our client Deep Marine Technology."
What are those services? Again, the statement was vague, saying only: "In the first half of 2007, we were retained to provide our risk management consulting services, and that work continues at this time."
As for Kazeminy, after initially remaning silent, he eventually hired a top Minneapolis-based crisis management expert, who late last week issued a tautological denial on his behalf: "Mr. Kazeminy vehemently denies the false and baseless claims made against him in recent weeks."
It's also worth noting that Norm Coleman and the Hays Companies may not have been on the same page about the arrangement between the firm and Laurie Coleman - a former model and actress who, according to state records examined by TPMmuckraker, only received her insurance license in October 2006. As we reported earlier this week, Norm Coleman wrote on his Senate disclosure forms for 2006 and 2007 that Laurie Coleman receives a salary from Hays - which would appear to contradict Hays' assertion that she's an independent contractor.
And according to FEC records examined by TPMmuckraker, Hays has been a frequent financial contributor to Coleman's Senate campaigns.
We may have to wait for possible law-enforcement or congressional investigations to get to the truth about Coleman's role in the alleged scheme. But it's certain that, barring any compelling explanations from any of the principals said to be involved, questions about the affair won't be going away any time soon.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (20)Topics: FBI, Hays Companies, Nasser Kazeminy, Norm Coleman, Senate Ethics Committee
Norm Coleman
Good Government Group Calls On FBI, Senate, To Probe Coleman
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.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (9)Topics: Nasser Kazeminy, Norm Coleman, Senate Ethics Committee
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