The motivated DumpBachmann folks point out that Tom Petters’ business associate Frank Vennes Jr. had extra motivation in December 2007 to get help from U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann in obtaining a presidential pardon for past money-laundering and other convictions. That was the same month that that Petters’ alleged massive Ponzi scheme became apparent to Vennes, according to an affidavit filed Jan. 8.

What might have motivated Bachmann to write a letter supporting a presidential pardon for Vennes on Dec. 10, 2007? Vennes made a series of donations to her campaign before and after she wrote the letter — which she withdrew in the final month of her re-election campaign last year, after the Petters scandal came to light.

Vennes has not yet been charged in connection with the Petters investigation.