FBI Investigating Coleman, Paper Reports

The Twin Cities Pioneer Press reports that a probe has been launched into Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman's ties to businessman Nasser Kazeminy:

Federal investigators are looking into allegations that a longtime friend and benefactor tried to steer money to U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, the Pioneer Press has learned.

Agents with the FBI have talked to or made efforts to talk to people in Texas familiar with the allegations, according to a source familiar with the situation.

Houston is where the first of two lawsuits was filed alleging Nasser Kazeminy, a Bloomington financier, tried to steer $100,000 to Coleman via his wife's Minneapolis employer. The second suit, filed in Delaware, alleges Kazeminy initially tried to get money directly to the senator.

Both Coleman and Kazeminy have denied any wrongdoing, and Coleman last month said he welcomes an investigation.

Neither Coleman nor his office has been contacted by the FBI, spokesman LeRoy Coleman said Tuesday morning.

"We have not been contacted by any law enforcement or investigative authority on this matter," he said.

On Tuesday evening, Coleman's campaign released the following statement: "We are not aware of any investigation that is under way, nor have we been contacted by any agency with respect to this matter. As we have said repeatedly, we welcome any investigation of these lawsuits by the appropriate authorities to get to the bottom of these baseless, sleazy and politically inspired allegations."

The campaign provided no evidence for the claim that the allegations are "politically inspired."

A lawsuit alleges that Kazeminy tried to funnel money directly to Sen. Coleman. Sam Stein reported recently for the Huffington Post that Coleman could face an ethics investigation for his ties to Kazeminy if he is reelected to the Senate. A Minnesota good government group has called for am FBI probe.

Comments

[Hank10303]

Ahhh, change I can believe in. The winds of ethics reform will be sweeping across the nation in the next four years;; corrupt polls will be rounded up from every corner be they dems or repub. or indy. Jail time will be handed out like candy and the people will be happy.

[kay]

I don't know. It's a little disconcerting that Patrick Fitzgerald seems to be the lone national prosecutor.

Can we get him some "helpers"? What are the rest of the 10,000 employees of the Justice Department up to?

[Chillinout]

The are busy covering up Bush's crimes

[MIMom]

Maybe we could re-hire the ones who were fir.ed?

[firesideone]

Reading Bush's memo distributed on Monday.

Seriously, politicizing Justice is one of the saddest accomplishment Rove achieved. The scales of justice need to be rebalanced.

[BoboPalinski]

I say Potholes - its what politicans from Chicago do best.

[Querent]

Making them, or fixing them?

[truthforme]

Justice . . . wow, what a concept.

[Questinia]

Senator Coleman, the residents of Easter Island called, they'd like their head back.

[HumeSkeptic]

LOL

[dentuso]

LMAO!!! Between that and Blago's Bob's Big Boy cut, we've got ourselves a couple of true winners here.

[kay]

"If Gov. Blagojevich refuses to relinquish power and avoids impeachment, Attorney General Lisa Madigan is prepared to force his hand, aides said Tuesday.

The state's chief law enforcement officer is prepared to invoke an obscure Illinois Supreme Court rule under which the state's seven justices could vote to oust a sitting governor deemed unfit for office."

I knew they'd come up with something. That didn't take long.

[lornejl]

And yet there sits W, for almost 8 years.

[kay]

I know. Things move at warp speed when Democrats are ousting a Democrat.

[Querent]

If Blagojevitch had to deal with Pelosi and Reid, he'd get to serve out his term and eventually have the charges dropped for lack of a speedy trial.

[Chillinout]

There was probably a dozen law clerks scouring the legal books and precedents looking for an "out" for Illinois. There is no way a state wants to have a just arrested Gov appointing someone to a seat he is accused of trying to sell.

[firesideone]

As well they should. Or at least limit power while the investigation is underway.

I'm all for innocent until guilty, but character and morals also count. His defense of this-is-just-how-politicians-talk is an admission of guilt to each.

[kay]

Oh, they want him out. I personally think he's completely insane. Like, mentally ill, which is scary all by itself.

[haramagoti]

See Coleman, you're supposed to Deny the need for an investigation before you tacitly admit some form of guilt by Inviting it upon yourself. Watch that first step, it's the doozy.

[HumeSkeptic]

Ammobob has learnt to post links.
.

[dentuso]

Yup. Some brainiac learnt him the Ctrl + C thing, and now he's like a caveman in a spaceship, playing with all the buttons.

[MIMom]

CAAAPTAIN CAAAAAAAVVVVVVEEMAAAAAN!

[MIMom]

Yea him!

[Telemachus]

I wish Bill Gates would quit distributing laptops to the elementary schools.

[buckygreen]

Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn once in awhile

[JCrewCommando]

...and we have a littlebullet c&p meltdown!

[dentuso]

Yup. This is like watching a kid insist that there's a real Superman, then quoting Marvel comics as his support.

[bronzy]

I know and its quite annoying now, geez!

[MIMom]

LOL!

[HumeSkeptic]

Yes. I wish it was some other kind. c&p meltdowns are so 2007.

[MakeAWish]

Both Democrats and Republicans, need to clean up their acts. This is what the FBI should be doing. Cleaning up Washington.

Our country is under assault by thieves and robbers disguised as public servants. I hope the FBI continues to root out, arrest and prosecute these scoundrels.

[firesideone]

Agreed. All the FBI needs is their political handcuffs removed, and it looks like that finally may be happening.

[zakwouldhave]

This is weak....the Governor of Illinois pay to play should be the top story for the balance of this week.
This seems Foxish.

[JamesR.]

http://www.foxnews.com/

Buh bye.

[HumeSkeptic]

Leave and don't return unless your demand is met. That's the only honorable thing to do for you.

[dentuso]

I'll cosign that one, too.

[proudloudlib]

That's righrt! Just stalk off in a huff (pun intended).

[RobertaInCT]

I blame the post tr-oll traffic here at HP on McCain. The tr-olls still think they can earn points from their w-ar hero............

[Chillinout]

They aren't bright enough to realize that the election is over.

[helenwheels]

You know, that is really true. They collectively comment as if 1) they still have some relevancy and power, and 2) they somehow believe that Obama will not be inaugurated on Jan. 20th.

It's very strange, this massive denial.

[OlskoolDem]

Wow, and he's not even from Chicago !

[MNmommy]

Nope, he's from Brooklyn.

[Questinia]

Any possibility Blago and Colemen are signifiers of a trend toward ethical transparency, an advent of Obama's presidency?

[Chillinout]

I was thinking the same thing, though I am not getting my hopes up.

[helenwheels]

I sure like to see it as a sign of that. Wouldn't it be great if a massive house-cleaning has begun?

[RJII]

Coleman's dentures look suspicious

[rockyb26]

agreed

[helenwheels]

like he stole his teeth from a horse

[Icantbelieveher]

Chicklets keep his breath fresh!

[breakingpoint]

What this country needs is a stronger justice system, too many political crooks to go around.

Hire more investigators and just post them on the Hill, it'll be like shooting fish in a barrel.

[dentuso]

With all due respect, we need more people to vote responsibly, which in turn means more responsible candidates, and more responsible government.

[rmetz74]

Amen.

Even a quick glance around these boards makes it clear that what we need most is a better educated, better informed public.

[breakingpoint]

rmetz74 answered that, education is the key, however, the last thing those with power want is an educated thinking public.

In 2002 the US ranked 18th in education among first world nations, since than the high school drop rate in urban areas have increased to over 50% that's going backwards not forwards.

Obama may want to fix the school buildings, and that's good and well, but who will fix those that dwell in the corridors?

If we have money and the will for war we have money and the will to educate our people. It's only a matter of priorities.

government, the people and business must work in concert.
education is the key.

[NoCheapShotsPlease]

Chiclet Teeth

[helenwheels]

what's funny is your name and then your comment. LOL!!

[NoCheapShotsPlease]

That actually refers to shots of alcohol...think deeper.

[j0n0]

Silly Coleman...

He should have set up a Web Site that allowed contributions by anonymous donors via credit card that allowed unlimited amounts of times you could contribute with the same card....

The Right has a lot to learn from the left when it comes to Financing a Campaign.

[firesideone]

"anonymous donors via credit card"

Hmmm, where can I can an anonymous credit card?????

Looks like the Right has a lot to learn. Period.

[j0n0]

Point made. Let me rephrase:

Silly Coleman...

He should have set up a Web Site that allowed contributions by unverified donors (Chineese Gonverment, Hamas, or other illegal contributions) via credit card that allowed unlimited amounts of times you could contribute with the same card....

The Right has a lot to learn from the left when it comes to Financing a Campaign.

[rmetz74]

You can get a 'Visa gift card' or any number of other anonymous credit cards very easily.

The other way to make an anonymous credit card donation is to forego the normal identity checks (address verification). Just like stores do by not asking for ID.

[rushthelibs]

I don’t know if it can be used to donate to a campaign, but I buy nameless/anonymous visa debit cards for my employee of the month at Wal-Mart every month. But then what would you know about Wal-Mart?

[Chillinout]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

One of the best things about this election? It's watching the right going into contortions as it slowly dawns on them that they are going to have a black president and there isn't anything they can do about it, at all.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[rushthelibs]

When are you libs going to get it through you head that most republicans have nothing against people of color? Did we not support Secretaries of State Powell and Rice? Do we not admire and respect Justice Thomas? You are going to respond by labeling these individuals as not black enough, but we both know that is not the case. These people have been painted as sell outs because (except Powell because he came around and saw the light) the Jackson’s and Sharpton’s of the world cant let a black man succeed unless he/she is in lock step with their brand of liberal politics.

You are right about one thing. Conservatives are going into convulsions over Pres. Elect Obama, but it has nothing to do with the color of his skin.

[Babysnake]

Facts are wrong.
Can't donate "unlimited" amount.
Go back to the website and actually read it with comprehension, this time.