Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has filed a complaint with the Senate’s ethics committee calling for an investigation into whether Sen.Norm Coleman’s Washington living arrangements violate the legislative body’s gift rules. The questions stem from recent revelations that Coleman rents a $600-per-month basement apartment on Capitol Hill from Republican operative Jeff Larson.

The National Journal first reported the living arrangement last week. The magazine also pointed out that Coleman failed to pay two months of rent until questioned about it by a reporter. In addition, the Senator paid another month’s rent by providing Larson with used furniture. And Coleman’s landlord failed to cash yet another rent check for three months — after being questioned about it by the National Journal.

"Sen. Coleman’s repeated missed rent payments and Mr. Larson’s failure to cash Sen. Coleman’s check suggest that Mr. Larson was not, in fact, necessarily expecting payment," writes Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, in her letter to the ethics committee. "Moreover, it is unclear whether the $600 rental rate represents the fair market value of the apartment considering other rental rates in the Capitol Hill neighborhood."

Yesterday the Democratic Party alleged at a press conference that the deal violated the Senate’s ethics rules, which prohibit gifts of greater than $50. The limit rises to $250 for gifts from personal friends. But party chairman Brian Melendez stopped short of saying the DFL would file its own ethics complaint. "We’re still exploring our options," he said.

Larson is a longtime personal and political ally of Coleman. He is a principal of FLS Connect, one of the largest GOP fundraising firms in the country. Larson also serves as the chair of Coleman’s Northstar Leadership PAC. In addition, as reported by the National Journal, Larson’s wife has been on Coleman’s staff since September 2005, earning $101,218. However, shortly after the magazine began making inquiries, it was announced that she would be leaving the office later this month. Since 2001, Coleman’s two senate campaigns and his PAC have paid roughly $1.6 million to FLS Connect for fundraising and consulting services.

"Few Americans have landlords who sometimes fail to cash their rent checks, ignore unpaid rent, or accept furniture in lieu of rent," concludes Sloan’s letter. "That Sen. Coleman has just such a landlord, who also happens to financially benefit from his relationship with the senator creates exactly the sort of appearance of impropriety that undermines the public’s faith in government."