Denise Cardinal

The death panels at the Federal Election Commission (FEC) work slowly. News that the FEC had dismissed a complaint against former U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman’s re-election campaign finally reached the public yesterday — nine months after it was filed and six weeks after commissioners decided to put it out of its misery.

Norm Coleman used media coverage of his dealings with friend and benefactor Nasser Kazeminy to argue to the Federal Election Commission that he should be able to spend campaign cash to fight two lawsuits that implicate him in a cash-funneling scheme.

Back in December Norm Coleman said he would seek clearance from the Federal Elections Commission to use campaign funds to cover personal legal bills. But he never followed through. In the meantime the former senator continues to rack up astronomical legal bills as he pursues the U.S. Senate contest.