Minnesota Independent: Latest Coleman & Kazeminy connection: The Star Tribune needs to tell the story
The Nation: Lawsuit Targets Major Coleman Donor
The Nation: PDF of Lawsuit (Relevant parts start on page 10)
Update: Huffington Post: Court Docs: GOP Donor Secretly Funneled $75k To Coleman Family
Update: MinnPost: Speculation swirls around lawsuit alleging indirect payments to Coleman
Update: The Politico: Lawsuit: Coleman’s wife received $75,000 in payments
Update: Harper’s Magazine: More Mystery on Senator Coleman and His Donor Friend
The short of it:
In March 2007, Kazeminy began ordering the payment of corporate funds to companies and individuals who tendered no goods or services to DMT for the states purpose of trying to financially assist United States Senator Norm Coleman of Minnesota. In March 2007, Kazeminy telephoned B.J. Thomas, then DMT’s Chief Financial Officer. In that conversation, Kazeminy told Mr. Thomas that “US Senators don’t make [expletive deleted]” and that he was going to find a way to get money to Coleman and wanted to utilize DMT in the process…Kazeminy told Mr. McKim that he [Kazeminy] would make sure there was paperwork to make it appear as though the payments were made in connection with the legitimate transations, explaining further that Senator Coleman’s wife, Laurie, worked for the Hays Companies, an insurance broker in Minneapolis, and that the payments could be made to Hays for insurance. When Mr. McKim made further objections, Kazeminy repeatedly threatened to fire Mr. McKim, telling him “this is my company” and that he and Thomas had better follow his orders in paying Hays. Subsequently, Kazeminy caused Hays to produce a document entitled “Disclosure of Service Fees” which purported to legitimize the basis of the payments to be made to Hays by DMT.
In other words, the same guy that was allegedly buying Norm his suits was also funneling large sums of money through one of his companies to Norm Coleman through his wife.
This is not unlike Ted Stevens’ case.
UPDATE: Brian Melendez, Chair of the Minnesota DFL released a statement:
These allegations of criminal behavior are serious and deeply troubling. The Plaintiff has verified those allegations — meaning that he will go to jail if he’s lying. Senator Coleman has a duty to the people of Minnesota to explain why those allegations aren’t true before the voters go to the polls on Tuesday.
$10 bucks says they’ve already put Laurie on a plane to somewhere she can’t be reached
Based on the level of space given to Coleman here today, the internal polling numbers must really be going in the wrong direction.
if true, this is disgusting. He doesnt do his job of oversight and then takes more money for it? Gross
I hear Ted Stevens will need a roommate.
GOP- Greed Over Principle
Aaron “I hate Norm Coleman…” Landry is getting desperate.
Aaron “I hate Norm Coleman…” Landry is getting desperate
As desperate as filing a transparently desperate lawsuit against your opponent in a senate race? Again?
Brilliant. Do we now get to call you Michael B. “kissing Coleman’s ass” Brodkorb, or do you think you might address the charges and leave the personalities out of it?
Or don’t you play like that?
How is Aron desperate when it was the Trib that initiated this? Sometimes you just don’t get it Michael.
Max: Michael only knows pointless ad hominem attacks.
Later, Alec
Journalism is not dead, even if the Strib is trying to kill it.
Need the facts. Is there merit to this case? I presume there isn’t until told otherwise. The timing is a bit shady, however, much like the timing of Coleman’s latest lawsuit.
It’s getting pretty awesome up in here.
We’ll see if this Hail Mary works. For now, the magic number is 41 (number of seats that the GOP must keep in order to avoid four years of chaos). Mike Ciresi would be running away with this election right now.
Either way, it doesn’t look pretty for Liberty and capitalism.
5 days until Obamanation of the constitution.
Hobo Senator Norm strikes again… A good guess is that this $75,000 “bribe” will be accounted for as a “mistake” in accounting… like the one they tried to crucify Franken with only this one has jail time written on it.
Mike Ciresi would be running away with this election right now.
Not if he ran his campaign like he did trying to get the nomination.
Yeah I watched the Cerisi delegates at a couple of the local conventions.
He didn’t have the kind of support Nelson-Palmeyer had.
Then that crappy dig from DtM… as though the so-called Republicans of today care about the Constitution.
Yeah Normy squealing away with his usual stunts.
Kazeminy told Mr. Thomas that “US Senators don’t make [expletive deleted]”
As a poorly paid teacher who reads blogs for fun because I can’t afford to go out, I am curious about Coleman’s senate salary. My guess is most minnesotans would feel very blessed and rich to have Norm’s income constraints. Norm should be given a job in the private sector to support the lifestyle he desires.
DTM and Brodkorb are proof of the old adage, “You can lead a Republican to knowledge, but you can’t make them think.” Fools. Great plug on Kos. Strib ain’t gonna report shit about their man, they haven’t yet, why would they now? Norm is goin down.
We’ll simply replace Michelle Bachmann with Al Franken as someone to embarrass us in DC.
Oh forgive me. I’m sure the author of “Liars and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them” and “Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot” will be a beacon of leadership when it comes to reaching across party lines.
But then again, he won’t have to with a branch sweep and a supermajority. Last time we had one of those was 1976. Lasted four years and spawned a revolution on the other side.
Nice try DTM, equating Franken with Bachmann, see if that one sticks for you. You sound as pathetic as your candidates and your ideology. Vote Palin.
I will say this though, Al Franken certainly does have something against liars. What’s up with liberal progressives being against lying? Republicans embrace their liars, put them on pedestals even! We certainly can’t have that kind of leadership in our government. Vote Palin/Coleman 2012 the change we need
Franken is to liberals what Bachmann is to conservatives.
To anyone who is right-of-center, he looks as wacked out to them as she does to you.
I predict 4 scandals and dozens of news-cycle-worthy gaffes in 6 years. I know Normie isn’t wart-free either, but this ought to be good. Get the popcorn ready, should be fun to watch.
The story’s on CBS now.. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/30/politics/politico/thecrypt/main4559464.shtml
Dan: You are an idiot. Jas
It amazes me how Republicans gin up these outrageous bullshit caricatures of people and then expect voters to believe them. “Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes” they spout as Obama shows himself to be thoughtful and intelligent. Al Franken is calm family man with an interest in representing the vast majority of Minnesotans with dignity and humor. If we do not send him to the Senate we will be missing out on great potential… much like Wellstone.
You have a disreputable opportunist who never met a government paycheck he didn’t take in Norm Coleman and all these Republicans acting like his greed was a patriotic thing. The disgusting carpetbagger represents no one but himself and never has since his days dealing drugs at Hofstra University.
You got money you can buy New York Norm like a cheap political whore. He has proven that over and over again in his career. Norm Coleman is the worst kind of politician, one that won’t even stay bought as you can see from his history. What values and precepts does he represent? He represents nothing but a handout and a glad hand for the highest bidder… today. Next week he needs more money and will follow any master. He is a great soulful symbol of what is wrong with the Republican party, just like Larry Craig and George Bush.
A vote for Norm Coleman proves the citizen was either drunk or duped or both.
“Franken is to liberals what Bachmann is to conservatives.”
I don’t recall Franken calling for an investigation of Congresspeople to see who is American or not. Please find me a political statement the man has made that even approximates that.
But, of course, you’re not actually trying to make a case, are you? You’re just playing a game of political equivalence. If one conservative is a shrill lunatic, then one liberal must be as well.
Well, go ahead. Prove your point. Back it up.
“You got money you can buy New York Norm like a cheap political whore”.
I think that’s over the line.
$100,000 is a lot of money.
Either way, it doesn’t look pretty for Liberty and capitalism.
5 days until Obamanation of the constitution.
DtM, I know it’s getting tough for the fascist wing of the GOP, but you really should try and review your posts before hitting the “Submit” button. Equating the Democratic party with a notion that they will attack liberty and capitalism is as old and stale a tactic as they get. I won’t ask you to try and defend this ridiculousness because I’m not really interested in the twisted and convoluted logic that it would take. Also, using the phrase, “Obamanation”, reveals in you a complete disregard for the truth. That phrase, is of course, from the hit piece by the douche bag Corsi. And the douche bag label isn’t just my opinion, he is considered a douche bag by nearly the entire planet. His douche baggery has reached epic proportions but that’s another post. If you “google” Obamanation, you get hits to the most vile, hate spewing, white supremacy sites on the web. Nice DtM, good references for knowing what kind of human being you are. It’s over for your philosophy. History will regard the last 30 years in the US as our experiment with fascism. Started by Reagan, we embarked on a course that led to our near collapse. Reagan is dead and his ideas are thankfully dead as well. As a good friend of mine often hollers at his ankle biting little mutt, “Shut up and go lay down by your dish.”
The allegations come from a lifelong Republican from Houston - Paul McKim, so whines of “11th hour” fall flat. In a culture of self-serving politicians, Norm manages to stand out as especially lacking in integrity. This is the story of the campaign and so far all local media is burying it. Truth will out, whether it’s before or after the election. Bye Norm!
I believe Obama is thoughtful and intelligent
I believe Franken is a great humorist and also a smart man
I think El Tinklenberg has had an outstanding career of public service and is a good man
I believe Ashwin Madia should be respected for his service to our country and I admire his ambition
I’m not saying I hate these people — I have no reason to. I’m sure they are all fine men. I just strongly disagree with their view as the role of government in our lives.
And I stand by my comments on Franken being unable to be a good, consistent voice who can work across the aisle. When you have made your living (and a good one) writing books that generalize and attack the people you’ll be working with in DC, how effective are you really going to be?
Again, I don’t hate Al Franken. Why would I? Seems like a nice guy 1-on-1. I just don’t think he can do the job of a Senator well.
stand by my comments
So your implying a Democratic party assault on liberty and capitalism? Your implying Obama will attack the constitution? Those are the comments your standing by? Your use of “Obamanation” paints you in a very bad light. You might want to retract that one. Also, you might want to provide some evidence, beyond your toolishness, for the whole “attack on liberty and capitalism” thing. On second thought, don’t bother. Illogical and simplistic thinking has been the core of the fascist wing of the GOP for 30 years and finally, it’s been shown to be wrong.