Kazeminy helps Coleman, Coleman helps Kazeminy

Sen. Norm Coleman has taken some media heat for his relationship to Nasser Kazeminy and Coleman’s recent stonewall over whether Kazeminy purchased expensive suits for the Senator. Coleman acknowledges that Kazeminy paid for vacations for Coleman, but how has Kazeminy benefited from their friendship?

The Nation’s Ari Berman digs into the financial friendship between Coleman and Kazeminy.

In the past few years, Kazeminy has paid for Coleman’s trips to the Bahamas, Paris and Jordan. Coleman called him “a friend with a plane.”

Yet the relationship is deeper than that. When Coleman was mayor of St. Paul (from 1994 to 2002), the city gave a $425,000 loan to help renovate the St. Paul Athletic Club, a project Kazeminy was an investor in. When the new gym opened, Coleman became the first member.

Between his stint as mayor and senator, Coleman joined a law firm, Winthrop and Weinstine, retained by Kazeminy’s company. Coleman was paid $140,000 during that brief time period, even though his law license was suspended at the time of the hiring because he’d failed to pay his dues to the Minnesota State Bar while mayor. Coleman initially declined to disclose the terms of the contract, telling the Minneapolis Star-Tribune it was “between the firm, me and my wife.”

Berman’s article as much more analysis and is worth the read.

Meanwhile, DailyKos diarist, D Wreck, looks through Nasser’s federal government contracts. Nasser’s received $1,139,494 in government contracts since Coleman took office in the Senate.

Nasser Kazeminy’s campaign contribution disclosure forms indicate NJK Holding as his employer. A review of USASpending.gov reveals government payments to NJK Holding totaling $328,082 beginning in 2003 when Coleman took office.

Kazeminy’s joint investment with Goodman in United Energy Corp has also benefited from government contracts. A review of USASpending.gov reveals government payments to United Energy Corp totaling $465,103 since Coleman took office in 2003. United Energy had previously received $222,766 between 2000-2002.

John Goodman’s campaign contribution disclosure forms indicate Sage Co. and The Goodman Group as his employers. A review of USASpending.gov reveals government payments to Sage Co totaling $346,309 since Coleman took office in 2003. Sage also received government payments of $174,000 between 2000-2002.

That totals $1,139,494 in government contracts between 2003-2008.