Updated: see below

The scandal-plagued reelection campaign of Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN), the fourth poorest US Senator, may be in real trouble. We're talking jail time if these allegations are true. Not just censure from the Senate or embarrassment.

First, Norm received a sweetheart apartment deal in which he paid a below market rate when he paid (he only paid past due rent after the story broke). Secondly, his landlord's company may have paid his utilities ... Norm has never shown anyone his utilities bills. Third, a rich benefactor has been accused of buying expensive, tailored suits for Norm at Neiman Marcus. And fourth, Aaron Landry has compiled all the scoops about this same benefactor who has apparently funneled $75,000 to Norm through his wife Laurie. The bottom line is that Nasser Kazeminy's company DMT gave money to Hayes Co. who paid Laurie Coleman $75,000 for not doing anything.

"This is why [Sen]. Ted Stevens just got convicted," said Brett Kappel of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP. "If this is true and Kazeminy gave a gift -- which includes money to a candidate's family member -- it doesn't mean that you can't take it, but you would have to report it on [your financial disclosure form]... If he knew about it, and of course, all of this has to be proven to be true, then yeah," he could go to jail.
(Huffington Post)

Read on for the details.

We've known for a while that Laurie was working for Hayes Co. What is hard to understand is what she did for them. Now we know ... probably nothing.

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.
(MinnPost)

The story broke this morning when Norm tried hold a press conference and two Star Tribune reporters questioned Norm about the $75,000. BTW, Norm was trying to highlight a complaint he'd filed against Al Franken. This is going to be interesting? Will the Strib actually cover this story?

Update

Joe Bodell did a little research into Laurie's alleged work at Hayes:

With all the brouhaha about money being funneled from a political benefactor through the Hays Companies to Norm Coleman, it got me to thinking: what did Laurie Coleman, an aspiring actress and model, do for an insurance brokerage to warrant a salary?
The Minnesota Department of Commerce website allows users to search for licensees of state agencies -- specifically, real estate appraisers, insurance brokers, and the like. A search of the site for Mrs. Coleman's name turned up no matches.
(MN Campaign Report)