Al Franken Sent $95,000 By Republicans

WASHINGTON — In the last chapter of a stinging loss to now-Sen. Al Franken, Minnesota's Republican Party has sent the Democrat almost $96,000 to cover lawsuit costs.

Republican Party spokesman Mark Drake said a check was sent via courier Monday to Franken's campaign committee. It arrived Tuesday, the same day Franken took his oath for a seat held open during an eight-month recount and court fight.

Minnesota law required Republican Norm Coleman to reimburse Franken for some costs because the election lawsuit didn't change the outcome. The judgment excluded Franken's attorney fees.

The Republican and Democratic parties have each chipped in to help pay candidate legal bills.

The check included $872 in interest that accrued in the month since Coleman was ordered to pay up.

The Minnesota Democrat's swearing-in marked the end of an eight-month political and legal struggle and drew thunderous applause and a standing ovation in the Senate chamber. His presence gives Democrats 60 votes, enough to thwart possible Republican filibusters.

Get HuffPost Politics On Facebook and Twitter!

Comments

[Sandmanj]

So now is Al going to reimburse all of us who sent him money to cover his legal fees?

[NPA]

As if YOU sent money, yeah right.

[larmarch5]

This is just interest on the money. I expect your reimbursement to be in the form of support for democratic agendas.

[Anthro]

It was a gift, not a loan. I hope you are kidding?

[CaptainVideo]

NO!

Simple answers to stupid questions.

[craneman]

Ah, the price of freedom. You gotta lovit!!

[leorising]

That's great news, and I really am thrilled that Senator Franken has been sworn in. My question: Does this mean he's going to refund the donations sent to his recount fund?

"This is Google's cache of http://www.alfranken.com/page/m2/6cf769f/715e6fa4/32c88bb2/78164199/1627188855/VEsH/. It is a snapshot of the page as it appeared on May 21, 2009 19:38:51 GMT. The current page could have changed in the meantime."

It has changed -- it is now back to a general fund to elect (re-elect?) Franken.

(Of course he won't refund those donations. Yeah, see -- I can be funny, too!)

[mediamarv]

Icing the cake.
Hey GOPers, how's that "party of no" thing working out for you???

[larmarch5]

They only thing they've been say "yes" to is illicit sex.

[gfm975]

O'Reily's head exploding.­.. sounds like an e-ticket attraction to me... I'd pay to see it.. and love every second of it.

[ropadopa]

Kudos to Senator Franken for hitting the Republicans where it hurts them most, in their pockets and their power base.

[AZterritory]

Bwah ha ha . . . thought the gop'ers only were paying off their mistresses these days.

[MIKEBC]

HA HA HA! send that money neo cons, not one cent short!

[JenIA]

I still think the both the national and MN GOPers should have to pay some staff time of Senator Amy Klobuchar's office. She and her staff had to do the work of 2 senators while the Normie and boys filed all these frivolous lawsuits.

Kudos to Sen. Klobuchar for continuing to work on behalf of all Minnesota citizens while Norm screwed over citizens of the right to have 2 senators representing them.

[notyouraveragebear]

In the words of a FOX cartoon character:

HA HA!!

[mick7191]

That will make O'Really's head explode.

[mediamarv]

Lovely visual.

CNN would run it, without commercials, 24/7!!!

[AdV2k1]

Ahhhhhhh.

[magilla]

TOGA! TOGA!

Oh, wrong era.

[lizr]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[delta7777]

I have great hopes for Al--somehow he appears to be
a person of great integrity.