Is it a coincidence that Norm Coleman's financial problems compelled him to turn to friend Nasser Kazeminy and GOP donors for help with renovations to his home? Remember that Kazeminy was already exposed for paying for Coleman's Neiman Marcus tab for new suits and that another friend, Jeff Larson rented Coleman an apartment at an unbelievably low price. Larson was also the person who secured Minneapolis/ST Paul as the GOP convention site for 2008. Was it payback.."quid pro quo"...you decide...
http://www.nationaljournal.com/...
This is what a new story out of Minnesota from FOX affiliate KMSP 9 is alleging this morning.
They have reported that at the time that Coleman allegedly received $75,000 in unreported payments from a prominent Republican businessman, he was also struggling to make payments for the restructuring of his home.
For video of the story:
http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/...
For the full text of the story, go to the link:
http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/...
ST. PAUL (FOX 9) -- The timing and cost of Sen. Norm Coleman's home renovation has again raised questions about allegations that an Edina, Minn. businessman funneled money to Norm Coleman's wife Laurie.
The FBI is now reportedly investigating the allegations that Nasser Kazeminy tried to funnel $75,000 in campaign contributions through the Senator's wife. By why would a U.S. Senator, who makes about $180,000 a year, need the money?
Norm Coleman's home in St. Paul's Crocus Hill neighborhood is not lavish -- but it's a lot nicer than it used to be, thanks in part to contractor Jim Taylors, who helped remodel the home two years ago.
Two lawsuits allege that in spring of 2007, Edina businessman Nasser Kazeminy began a series of $25,000 payments to Coleman from Deep Marine Technology, a company he controlled in Texas, to Hays Companies, the Minnesota Insurance company where Laurie Coleman works.
Senator Coleman is not a party to the lawsuits -- denying any wrongdoing. "My wife has been devastated, impugning her integrity, the allegations are false and defamatory," he says.
But government ethics professor David Schultz says tough questions are fair game, when serious financial allegations are made involving a United States senator.
"It speaks to first, in terms of credibility, in terms of what Norm Coleman has to say in responding to allegations. Second it speaks to the whole sense of motive, motive in terms of why he at this point might be trying to raise money," says Schultz.
While Coleman didn't agree to sit down for a interview, his campaign did agree to share billing records of the remodeling project. Original projections in 2006 estimated a cost of $328,000, but four months later, the construction cost was estimated at $414,000, over-budget by $86,000.
During that time is when, the lawsuit alleges, Kazeminy was trying to get money to Coleman.
According to the lawsuits, in March of 2007, Kazeminy said that "U.S. Senators don't make s---" and he was going to try to find a way to get money to Coleman.
"On the one level it could just be a coincidence, on the other level this could be one of the reasons he's getting that money from elsewhere, to try to make up for his, to be able to pay off a loan, pay off a line of credit," says Schultz.
Are we supposed to feel sorry for poor Norm, because he can't live on his $165,000 year salary (plus his wife's earnings)? Republicans in the Senate have just opted to un-employ millions of people because of their extremist partisanship and desire to end unions and pro labor movements in this country. Norm Coleman was part of that gang of 18 Senators.
Where's the Republican outcry about Coleman, because last time I looked, Republicans were still pulling their hair out over the Blagojevich debacle. Why isn't this national news yet?
Now it is true that allegations don't necessarily portend guilt, but doesn't Coleman appear desperate? Is this the kind of characteristic you want in your Senator? Would you want a Senator representing you that is knee deep in his benefactors pockets?
Should Norm Coleman be forced to resign or removed from office, Minnesota law states that a special election would be held to fill the vacancy.