Ethics complaint filed against Coleman.
The watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed a complaint with the Senate Ethics Committee today against GOP Sen. Norm Coleman. The complaint asks the committee to investigate whether Coleman violated the Senate gift ban by accepting lodging from GOP operative Jeff Larson.
The National Journal reported last week that Coleman both missed and was late paying his monthly rent payments (which was $600). Coleman defended his decision to rent the apartment saying Larson is a long time friend and is not a lobbyist.
(UPDATED WITH RESPONSE FROM COLEMAN CAMPAIGN)
Coleman's campaign called the complaint politically motivated. It also called Melanie Sloan, the head of CREW, a "surrogate" for Coleman's DFL challenger, Al Franken.
"Melanie Sloan was a featured guest who made at least 50 appearances on Al Franken's radio show -- appearances that were marked with theme music dedicated to her, and made her a reliable attack dog for the Democrat Party," said Coleman campaign spokesman Luke Friedrich.
"The record is clear that Senator Coleman paid fair market value for a cramped basement bedroom, and attacks by Franken's surrogates won't change those facts," he added.
MPR has a story about the ethics complaint here.
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