Franken hits back with new ad

Al Franken hits back at Norm Coleman's attack ads.

TwoPuttTommy has been investigating Norm's sweetheart living arrangements. You can preview what Al will be saying about Norm's apartment right here at mnblue:

Here are the salient points.

• Norm downsized from an $1700/mth multi-room apartment to a $600/mth basement apartment.
• The house is owned by Jeff Larson, Republican activist and fundraiser.
• Larson owns FLS Connect which Norm's campaign and PAC have paid over $1.5 million.
• Norm employs Larson's wife though she's paid under her maiden name
• Similar apartments in the area rent from $1100 to $1500/mth.
• Norm and Larson claim that its a cramped apartment with no kitchen.
• When the house was on the market in 2007, the apartment was listed as "a huge English basement with a media center, office space, gorgeous custom marble and oak bar plus an airy guest bedroom and bath…Simply Divine!”
• Norm didn't pay two months rent this year and only did so when the reporter for the National Journal, Edward Pound, asked about it. Another month's rent was paid with a table and chairs. Yet this furniture is in his apartment.
• Larson claims that he is homesteading the property, yet admitted in the Nat'l Journal article that he rents the whole house out.
• Norm can only accept gifts from friends (Norm claims Larson is a long-time friend) of under $250.

At the beginning of July, CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington) filed a ethics complaint against Norm.

The Senate gifts rule generally prohibits members and staff from accepting gifts, but has two exceptions under which they may accept lodging: if based on personal friendship or, as long as the giver is not a lobbyist or foreign agent, if the gift constitutes personal hospitality. Because the relationship between Sen. Coleman and Mr. Larson appears to be more business than personal, the gift would not be permitted under the “personal friendship” exception. Because Mr. Larson does not live in the townhouse, but rents it out to others, he is not hosting Sen. Coleman and “the personal hospitality” exception would not apply.

Here are the posts at mnblue on this topic:

• Ethics Complaint Filed Against Coleman
• Is Norm's Pal Jeff a Tax Cheat?
  
• Norm's sweetheart apartment deal a violation of Senate ethics?
• What does Norm Coleman do when Laurie visits from CA?
• Norm Coleman's Landlord
• Is Senator Coleman Blowing Smoke - Again?
• Jeff "Landlord" Larson's Property Tax Problems