Coleman talks “suitgate” at press event

At the press availability event Thursday, the one that barred Minnesota Independent and The UpTake, Sen. Norm Coleman attempted to address recent concerns about whether Nasser Kazeminy paid for his suits. The Pioneer Press’ Rachel Stassen-Berger has the transcript of the event.

While I have answered honestly the question about suits and jobs – I will say as clearly as I can.

Nobody except my wife or me bought my suits.

If my friends have shared gifts with me and my family – or I have shared gifts with them – if they rose to the level of having to be reported – they were reported.

Are you satisfied with his answer? Let us know in the comments.

The full portion of the statement regarding suits:

Over the last several days I have received a fresh batch of questions from reporters, fueled by blogs, about personal issues concerning my finances, my family and my wife.

I guess I was a little naive last week. I thought news organizations would not publish a story based on a political blog without substantiation, so I didn’t think I personally needed to respond to baseless and sensationalized claims. Our thought was that responding would make a story out of a non-story. Today there is obviously a different standard. Refusing to respond to a baseless unsubstantiated claim that appears on a blog becomes a story. I guess I learned a lesson.

We all learn from different sources, like the tidbit I picked up from Michael Scott from The Office who said “Wikipedia is the best thing ever. Anyone in the world can write anything they want about any subject, so you know you are getting the best possible information.” That’s the world we live in

So today my response will be specific and complete.

While I have answered honestly the question about suits and jobs – I will say as clearly as I can.

Nobody except my wife or me bought my suits.

If my friends have shared gifts with me and my family – or I have shared gifts with them – if they rose to the level of having to be reported – they were reported.

As many know, Senate Ethics Rules are extensive – and tough and spell out exactly what must be disclosed. Lobbyists can’t give you gifts – long-time friends can share gifts that friends share. I have friends – like many of you here today have friends – and if my friends ever gave me a gift that was required to have been reported – it was reported.

I have heard and answered many of these questions before and given my answers, but I will do it again – and for the last time.

Throughout my public career I have tried to be as transparent and forthcoming as I could and maintain a minimum degree of privacy in my family’s private life.

I have, in good faith, reported everything I was required to and then some.

My official life is an open book for anyone to read, in my financial disclosures, my FEC reports and my official websites which lists all my trips and earmarks.

I’m okay with you asking me these questions – but I am also intent on saying that when they’ve been answered, they’ve been answered.

Families and personal issues are out of bounds and must stay that way. And, from this Senator and father and husband – they are off bounds – and out of bounds.

In recent days, outrageous questions and insinuations have been lodged against my wife about her employment. My wife’s job has been disclosed as required under the ethics laws of the United States Senate. My wife is a certified and licensed insurance agent – she works for a living – and her employer is pleased with her work – and she is pleased with her job.

And that’s all anybody is entitled to know.

Questions about my wife – about my children – about their private lives, jobs, work and school – are just that – private. And, they will remain that way.

Al Franken’s family – Dean Barkley’s family – Norm Coleman’s family – are off limits.

Barack Obama was right – families should not be targets of attack in political campaigns. And, I won’t let my family be the target of anyone’s attack – nor will I cross that line where you feel that you have a right to come across that line. Because you do not.

I will, once more, gladly respond to your questions—and then we must get back on track with a positive campaign about the issues of the day.

You may not like my answers – and you may feel you are entitled to something more – but, I am entitled to my privacy in my private life – and I am entitled to have my public life treated honestly and fairly – and I will insist on both.

In the remaining days I hope we can not only engage the people of Minnesota in the debate but inspire them with confidence that we can overcome the negative tenor of these times and move Minnesota and the nation forward.

That’s my plan going forward and I hope others will choose the same path.