Coleman Officially Challenges His Election Loss

Sen. Norm Coleman announced on Tuesday that he has instructed his legal team to challenge the result of the Minnesota Senate recount that left Democrat Al Franken 225 votes ahead.

"I really believe that the people of Minnesota want to get this right, no matter what side of the aisle you are on," the Senator declared before a gaggle of reporters.

The move by Coleman -- officially contesting the election to the Ramsey County Court -- ensures that there will be no second seated Senator from the state of Minnesota for the foreseeable future. Senate Democrats have declined to use procedural methods to seat Al Franken, who has officially won more votes in the election, until he has a signed certification from the governor.

Coleman, in a brief press conference, argued that the state canvassing board had disenfranchised some voters through a variety of decisions made during the course of the recount process.

"Until these issues are settled," he said, "any attempt to seat a Senator who is not properly certified violates Senate precedent, and usurps the will of the people of Minnesota."

UPDATE: In a brief press conference after Coleman's statement, the (former) Senator's lead attorney, Fritz Knaak, warns Minnesotans that the challenge could take some time.

"I would not be surprised if this went a month a half, two months out," he said. "Technically we could redo the entire recount. I can tell you right now, that is not in the plans."

Oy.

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In a conference call with reporters following the announcement of Coleman's lawsuit, Al Franken's chief counsel, Marc Elias, called the move a regrettable diversion from filling Minnesota's now vacant Senate seat, one that would not change the final results.

Saying that Franken's margin was "close but comfortable," Elias dismissed the complaints contained in Coleman's suit as already settled terrain.

"Today we have all learned that Sen. Coleman has decided to fight that fight no matter how long the odds are or how much the cost will be," said Elias. There is nothing in what was filed today that was new ... And the results will be the same this time as it was before."

Elias parlayed several questions about the refusal of Senate Democrats to seat Franken while the election results are being certified and litigated. He declined to call the lawsuit illegitimate, saying simply that it was frivolous.

"The great thing about America is that the court systems remain open to all kinds of claims ... So I won't say it is illegitimate because that's what the courts are there for. But you shouldn't confuse that ... with the question of whether or not those cases have any merit."

Comments

[NoSandwiches]

This is a lot like Washington's Gov race last go around. The Republican won the intial count. An automatic recount was triggere by the close count. The Democrt came ahead. There was a second recount. The Democrat came ahead. Then the Republicans were bitter for four years. Then the race was rerun with the same candidates but this time the Republican lost by a much more substantial amount. He still took a long time to concede.

An election like this makes people angry no matter who wins and who loses. That's just not fun nor productive.

Coleman--give it up and be a sport. You lost. This isn't helping anybody.

[CrittersRTasty]

Except in this case there has, so far, been only one recount and it has raised some disturbing questions. Any time the number of ballots doesnt match the number of folks who voted, you have to wonder. I'm not a fan of post-election legal battles myself, but sometimes it's worthwhile.
At least we're in a country where this goes through the courts. There are places in the world where this would have triggered gun-battles!

[howdidoodi]

I originally read this pasage wrong and thought it said...

"I really believe that the people of Minnesota want to get this right, no matter what side of the aisle you are on," the Senator declared before GIGGLING reporters.­'

By the way - isn't he now the ex-Senator? I heard his term expired and his office was closed last Saturday. LOL

[Sundialsvc4]

Okay, the Minnesota Legislature --is-- going to have to decide this ...

"Okay, gentlemen, I have $1 million from Mr. Franken. Do I hear $2 million? Thank you. $2 million from Mr. Coleman. Do I hear $3 million ...?"

Seriously.­.. When you have millions of pieces of paper, and a discrepancy of "a couple hundred votes," then that's a difference so utterly small ... such a tiny percentage of the total ... that any sort of procedural error could tip it one way or the other, and the People of Minnesota could thusly be denied one-half of their representation in Congress until doomsday. In the ultimate analysis, though, "that's not acceptable­."

That's not what courts are for, in this case: that's what legislatures are for. A binding decision must be made, even though one party will consider it to be "wrong" and even though the decision is, to a certain extent, "arbitrary­." The People of the State of Minnesota, as represented in their Legislature, must "chuse" their representation in the Senate.

[Lemmy]

Under Minnesota law, election officials are required to make a duplicate
ballot if the original is damaged during Election Night counting. Officials
are supposed to mark these as "duplicate" and segregate the original
ballots. But it appears some officials may have failed to mark ballots as
duplicates, which are now being counted in addition to the originals. This
helps explain why more than 25 precincts now have more ballots than voters
who signed in to vote. By some estimates this double counting has yielded
Mr. Franken an additional 80 to 100 votes.

It it were Franken instead of Coleman, you'd bet he'd be taking legal action too.

[NoSandwiches]

That argument has already been fought in the courts and lost.

[RickCoMatic]

This is what the Wall Street Journal reported in their article so drastically Anti-democratically slanted the story should have been printed in yellow ink.
The business of double-counted votes was adequately addressed and investigated.
The accused double-counted votes never happened. It's untrue. Not a fact. Don't make the statement without declaring it OPINION or the LIE it is.
The whole recount was fair and completely transparent. There can be no foundation for a claim of wrongdoing that won't be dismissed without merit. The whole deal was done under such scrutiny you'd have thought they were counting and grading diamonds.
Senator-Elect Al Franken will be sworn-in to the Senate after the GOP's puppet-boy Coleman keeps the matter tied-up in the courts long enough for the Republican Senate to retain its power during the early days of the Obama Administration.
Once enough Pork gets attached to everything President Obama needs from the Senate the Coleman claims will get decided and Franken seated and sworn.
They're just playing dirty pool.
Nobody does it better than the National Republican Senate Committee!

[kensp]

Why are you quoting the discredited Wall Street Journal hit piece without attributing it. The fact that it is pure partisan crap does not mean you can just steal it you know.

[StillAmused]

Coleman has sued his last few opponents, usually in the late going.

Any truth to the rumor a suit has been prepared and will be filed against the mortician in his pre-paid burial plan?

[MNmommy]

In an interesting turn of events - the St Paul Pioneer Press decides to run the WSJ Editorial today:

http://minnesotaindependent.com/22263/pioneer-press-reprints-discredited-wall-street-journal-editorial-on-senate-election#more-22263

If anyone doesn't believe that this is a well planned effort at p r o p a g a n d a to try to convince Minnesotans that Coleman has a valid claim in his contest, I don't know what is. When are we going to throw off the j a c k b o o t s and take back America?

I realize that those outside of my fair state are very excited about the inauguration of Obama, but right now I'm so frustrated about Coleman, Cornyn and Reid that the bloom is completely off that rose.

[MNmommy]

Direct link to the despicable act:

http://www.twincities.com/opinion/ci_11388090?nclick_check=1

[Toker]

Coleman: "I really believe that the people of Minnesota want to get this right, no matter what side of the aisle you are on,"

He sure didn't feel that way when Franken wanted a recount. The irony.

[WilliamGossett]

This is much like the 1994 gubernatorial race in Maryland where GOP candisate Ellen Sauerbrey claimed voter fraud and tried to gte the election turned around betrween Paris Glendenning and herself. It dragged on for months.

Coleman will not give up. He has no reason to. As long as he is bank rolled he will continue forever.

[yellowcanine]

In the 1994 race for MD governor it wasn't nearly this close and though the contest dragged on for a while Sauerbrey did not succeed in preventing the seating of Glendenning as governor on time.

[grf67]

Isn't it great that those great patriotic republicans are normally the ones trying to surpress the vote and sueing to resolve elections. Why would any voter trust a republican? And why isn't Coleman in jail yet?

[Zengeist]

The actual quote was, "I really believe the people of Minnesota want to get this right, and that can only mean electing me, no matter what it takes or how true it is." Seriously, people - isn't this the kind of vision and self-involved leadership that allowed us to 'stay the course' the last eight years? We'll miss you, Norm. Norm who?

[greyseal in tampa]

Does this guy sue God when it rains?

[cezzy]

Let it play out - "Ab-Norm-al"

I was very disappointed when Horseface, ex-senator Coleman, did not concede today. After some reflection, I concluded that it will be more immensely satisfying when his frivolous lawsuit (as his challenges in the recount) are tossed aside, and Franken prevails. Too bad, we taxpayers are going to have to pay for "Ab-Norm-al's" shenanigans and we'll be without representation in the senate for who knows how long. Norm had an opportunity to go out with some semblance of class. Not any more. Go back to Brooklyn, you Crooklyn!

[taricaziz]

I never voted for Arnie Carlson, but have respected his opinions, which were always delivered with class.

[SteveCleve]

I have a question. There was a 3rd party candidate who received over 10%. Who did he take more votes from, Senator Franken or Chiclet Boy?

[CrittersRTasty]

"Senator Franken"? Hold on there....t­here is no such animal at the moment....

[proggirl]

According to local analysts, Dean Barclay's votes came roughly equally from the two major parties.

[donbrown]

Oh...my...­GAWD! It looks like the man just swallowed a Steinway!