[Update: press conference canceled]

One of the poorer members of the US Senate, Minnesota's own Norm Coleman, has been taken care of by his friends. From a sweetheart apartment deal in Washington, DC to a job for his wife so she can afford to live in California to clothes, it is clear that Republican donors are taking good care of Norm and his family.

Coleman also has a close relationship with Minnesota businessman Nasser Kazeminy, a big donor to the G.O.P. and to Coleman. In 2005, the senator and his daughter jetted down to the Bahamas on a private plane owned by Kazeminy, a trip valued at $3,960. In 2004, he and his wife flew to Paris on Kazeminy’s plane, a $2,870 value.

“The trips … fall under the Senate gift rule, which allows for pre-approved gifts from long-term friends, the Star Tribune said in a 2006 story about the trips. “Coleman said he has known Kazeminy for more than a decade and the two have spent Christmas together. ‘It’s a friend with a plane,’ Coleman said.”

I’ve been told by two sources that Kazeminy has in the past covered the bills for Coleman’s lavish clothing purchases at Nieman Marcus in Minneapolis. The sources were not certain of the dates of the purchases; if they were made before Coleman joined the Senate in 2003, he obviously would not be required to report it under senate rules. But having a private businessman pay for your clothing is never a good idea if you’re a public official (Coleman was mayor of St. Paul from 1994 to 2002).
(Harper's)

Even if I wanted to make stuff up about how Norm has been purchased, I couldn't have dreamed this one up. But it gets better. Norm's staff won't answer basic questions about this and Norm is even getting flustered over this:

The Pioneer Press has a rough transcript:

"First of all, every gift I've ever received has been reported, ok. But the idea of responding to the things bloggers throw out is something I'm not going to get into. There are very awful things that are said about people on the blogs," he said.

Orrick then asked for a simple yes or no answer on the suit question.

"That's the answer, period. You can read it in the answer," he said.

"As required, any gift Norm Coleman has received from his friends has been fully reported," Spokesman Leroy Coleman replied. This is all that Norm's staff will say is that everything has been reported.

But it doesn't end there. Sam Stein reports at the Huffington Post:

What does Sen. Norm Coleman actually pay for?

On Monday, an aide to the Minnesota Republican refused to officially deny that the Senator had his clothing paid for by a prominent businessman and GOP donor Nasser Kazeminy, either before or during his time in Congress.

"As required, any gift Norm Coleman has received from his friends has been fully reported," spokesman Leroy Coleman replied to Harpers Magazine twice, when asked for a direct yes or no answer.

The revelation comes amidst growing scrutiny over Coleman's finances. The Senator is the fourth poorest member of the United States Senate, but he claims more than $600,000 in market value assets. While in office, Coleman has had a bevy of items either paid for him or discounted on his behalf -- spurring condemnation from good government groups and political opponents in the process.
(Huffington Post)

Update: Press Conference canceled

MN Publius is reporting that Norm canceled a press conference scheduled for today at the State Capitol. What's up? Is Norm nervous about this issue? Is he unwilling to answer questions? Or is he unable to answer because the answer is unflattering? Is there some corruption here? Did Norm fail to report this gift?