While Senator Elizabeth Dole, Senator John Sununu, and Senator Gordon Smith are the first to give the money received from the recently indicted Ted Stevens to chairty, Norm Coleman is the first I’ve heard to actually go on the record saying he’s keeping it:
Coleman called the indictment “a very, very serious matter,” but added, “Under our system of justice, people are presumed innocent until proven guilty. I look at that principle before making any decisions about returning any contributions.”
That’s funny. Remember when Larry Craig was toilet tap dancing? From the AP, August 29, 2007:
Two Senate Republican colleagues, including John McCain, called Wednesday for Sen. Larry Craig to resign. The White House, too, expressed disappointment in the case of the Idaho Republican caught in a men’s room undercover police operation.
Arizona Sen. McCain and Norm Coleman of Minnesota, the state where Craig was arrested, became the first senators to join Rep. Peter Hoekstra, R-Mich., urging Craig’s resignation.
Coleman was also the first member of congress to, well:
Sen. Norm Coleman will be donating a $2,500 contribution he received from Sen. Larry Craig’s political action committee to charity.
Coleman’s campaign manager, Cullen Sheehan, says that the Minnesota Republican senator will donate the contribution he received two months ago from Craig’s “Alliance for the West” PAC.
The other main player here, VECO, already pleaded guilty:
VECO was once the dominant force in Alaska’s oil services industry. Its founder, Allen, and vice president, Rick Smith, have pleaded guilty to bribing state lawmakers to push legislation to help the company. That initial investigation into VECO spawned the Stevens probe.
Allen agreed to cooperate with the FBI as part of a plea deal for a lesser penalty. That cooperation included letting the FBI tape his phone calls with Stevens, though those calls do not appear as part of the indictment.
Coleman received money from both Allen and Smith as well.
So what makes this situation with Ted Stevens so different? Is it too much to just give away to charity? Why would Dole, Sununu and Smith have a different opinion?
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“Under our system of justice, people are presumed innocent until proven guilty.”
Larry Craig pleaded guilty, so Coleman returned those contributions. If Stevens pleads guilty, or is proven guilty, then it is fair to see what Coleman does with the money.
Wow. This would be relevant if the DFL had a half way decent candidate. Too bad the DFL nominated Al Franken, so this won’t matter.
Once again the DFL snatches defeat from the jaws of victory. I suspect we will say the same thing about the DFL’s choice of Madia
over Bonoff.
Coleman’s a good dog. He shouldn’t have to return favor money given by disputable people.
That is something which should only ever happen to th people on the left?
Didn’t you get your RW talking points this morning? — — — — -Karen Ryan reporting.
Mr. Stevens looks natty in a Navy blazer with blue silk tie and matching hankie.
Wonder if he’ll look as dapper in Penitentiary Orange Jumpsuit?
And can he be roommates with Randy ‘Duke’ Cunningham so he doesn’t get lonely?
Or will we build a special new Pen for former members of Congress?
Oh Wait: it’s premature to ask these questions since our judicial system presumes him innocent until proven guilty.
fair, I don’t come close to understanding your reasoning. Is keeping campaign money from a Senator under indictment (for a crime far worse than trying to hook up in the can) ok if your opponent doesn’t meet your standards?
Randy — innocent until proven guilty. If Stevens is convicted, then it is fair to criticize Coleman if he doesn’t give the money back.
Sean2 I agree 100%,
There are some Americans who we Republicans say are guilty before they are proven innocent. They are just moonbats who hate America and want us to lose in Iraq, so they do not deserve the benefit of a doubt. They cannot be trusted and are wrong on the issues.
Ted Stevens, on the other hand, is 100% correct on the issues. He has consistently repeated the exact same talking points we Republicans say over and over and over again. He is innocent until proven guilty.
We Republicans decide who gets treated one way, and who gets treated another. WE ARE THE DECIDERS
Why don’t you moonbats get that?
Great Job Sean2
I hate to take up for Coleman, but technically he’s not wrong. Craig pled guilty, so was, by definition, guilty. Stevens, no matter what evidence is assembled against him, hasn’t had his day in court yet. And the Justice Dept. apparently doesn’t think they have all that great a case against him or they would’ve gone for the more serious bribery charge rather than just lying on his financial statements.
Bottom line, the truly self-righteous thing for Coleman to do would be to give the money back, of course, but it’s fairly pointless to take him to task for taking a wait and see approach. And if he keeps the money after a conviction — feel free to give him a close broadsides.
Sean2 — I know the distinction, although I think nothing makes a defendant sound guiltier than leading off his first public statement with a recitation of his many years of faithful service. My point was that I don’t understand why this would be an issue only if someone other than Al Franken were running.
Rich — bribery would require some proof that the “gift” was made with the intent to influence action. A generalized attempt to curry favor with a powerful Senator because it will help sometime down the road does not count as bribery.
Republican Senator indicted for financial misconduct. Why is this even news any more? Norm Coleman grabs the money and runs… why is this even news? Sheesh, the next thing you know somebody will be surprised that Norm Coleman has been changing his votes from being a total Bush buttboy to just 80% buttboy and 20% hiding from his Republican designation on votes that don’t matter. In Norm’s case, don’t be surprised if a liar lies to you… and don’t be surprised if a money grubber grubs ill gotten gains