Coleman Drops NRSC Bid To Benefit Of Potential Investigator

Sen. Norm Coleman announced on Thursday that he was dropping his bid to become the next chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee -- a position he had coveted for several years.

The move, his office said, was done so that the Minnesota Republican could focus on his recount campaign against Al Franken, in which Coleman has a scant 206 vote lead.

"Sen. Coleman has chosen to step back and focus his efforts on the recount. Going forward, he gives his full support to Sen. Cornyn," said his spokesman LeRoy Coleman (of no relation).

But there is a more nefarious reading one could take away from the announcement. Coleman's main competition for the NRSC post -- the individual who stood the most to gain from Coleman dropping his bid -- was Sen. John Cornyn.

The Texas Republican, in addition to being the likely future head of GOP Senate campaigning, is also the Republican chair of the Senate Committee on Ethics. And Coleman, currently, has a potentially damaging ethics-violation allegation starring him in the face.

Two lawsuits -- one in Texas the other in Delaware -- allege that the Senator and his wife took $75,000 in payments from a GOP benefactor that they failed to report on their personal financial disclosure form.

The ethics committee has already been urged to look into the allegation -- which Coleman denies -- by the good government group Alliance for a Better Minnesota. And a Democratic aide on the committee says that it is policy to look into any grievance that has been sent their way.

"Anytime the Senate Ethics Committee gets a complaint," she said, "we take a look at it."

Additionally, ethics lawyers who have followed the issue say that, should Coleman be reelected, he would more than likely be investigated by Congress. The allegation leveled at him, after all, is markedly similar to charges made (and proved) against Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens.

Only now, the Republican chair who may oversee that investigation is the same individual whose path to the top of the NRSC Coleman just paved.

Comments

[Keith52]

What..... Is he going to count the ballots himself?

[Grunty1]

Normy trading favors for special treatment.
It sounds so... Republican.

[SharonAustinTX]

I'm in Texas and John Cornyn is a rabid partisan who has voted against veterans issues (like McCain). he Republicans control state government and Cornyn has just been re-elected for a 4th term.

He's also co-chair of the Senate Ethics Committee with D-CA Barbara Boxer. On Oct. 9th, CREW (Citizens for Responsible Ethics in Washington) filed a legal complaint with the committee against McCain NOT reporting years of gambling winnings on his annual finance disclosure forms. I've been monitoring the status and there is none. I've contacted Cornyn's office with no reply. Boxer responded that she has so many e-mails she can't address requests from outside California.

[brynn6]

O.K. California people, you know what to do!

[courageunderfire]

Recount? No, I think you mean that you want to focus on the fact that the FBI is about to investigate you for those funds given to your wife. It just wouldn't be good timing. Awh shucks, Norm, that's too bad.

[incogmeo]

Franken's intelligence and wit will be a breath of fresh air !

[Revolt916]

Hey Norm, George Galloway said hello

[Carolab]

That was one of the BEST a**-whoopings I ever saw!

[philosopherkingtomas]

hey Coleman, ex-senator,
how about bunking with you prison buddy Stevens !

[MNinWI]

they could get a 2fer.

[NWBrunette]

Funny how he wants to devote his time to the "recount campaign". Since when does a recount involve campaigning? Oh, sorry. That's right, when a republican is involved.

[mimigrammy]

Focus as he might, if the votes aren't there he's gone. I think Franken has the potential to be a real fighter for the good people of Minnesota.

[ladycubsfan]

Oh, shite! I thought he was conceding his race with Franken. Oh, well, that will happen eventually.

[Big0725]

Could it be that the decision could be moot soon. I'll be kinda hard to be the head of the RNSC if you aren't a senator, won't it?

[fnygy]

from this post to God's laptop!

[Icantbelieveher]

God has a blackberry!

[trollsbwild]

Coleman is facing serious charges and he will not find any tolerance from any member of the Senate, Republican or Democrat. Too many people are watching.

[TrooAmerican]

One rat scratches ones back, the other scratches the other's back.

[wizargoz]

"Sen. Coleman has chosen to step back and focus his efforts on the recount."

Every single vote? Won't that hurt his eyes?

[plzchuteme]

Apparently many of you are not familiar with Coleman language. When he says that he "reaches across the aisle," he really means he going to steal your pencil. When he says he going to focus on the recount campaign, he really means he has to clean out his desk and pack up those "free suits."

By the way, since when is a recount a "campaign????"

[Grunty1]

When you plan to use lawsuits to overturn the result if it doesn't go your way.

[whatfreshhellisthis]

By now he has filed so many lawsuits that he should be able to do it in his sleep. I'm not sure why he needs to focus on the recount.

[avocats]

Won 't the Democrats be naming the chair of the Senate's ethics committee? Does anyone expect the committee Cornyn chairs now to act before Inauguration Day?

[oldguru]

UM, look it up. Cornyn is VICE-CHAIR. Barbara Boxer is chair of the Senate Ethics
Committee. The Dems have the nominal majority. All committee chairs are Dems.