Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann was quick to try to distance herself from ex-con campaign contributor Frank Vennes Jr. when his alleged involvement in the multibillion-dollar Tom Petters financial fraud scandal became public recently. But she showed little hesitation in showering praise on the convicted money-launderer and cocaine-and-gun trafficker a year ago in her letter of recommendation to grant Vennes–who, along with his wife, is among the most generous individual donors to Bachmann’s campaigns–a presidential pardon.

In a letter to the Office of Pardon Attorney dated Dec. 10, 2007, that I obtained yesterday (PDF), Bachmann declared that “granting a pardon to Mr. Vennes is good for society. Mr. Vennes is truly a unique man in that he is not asking for a pardon that he may achieve personal success. By the grace of God, that has been done.”

God, however, may have had a little help from Petters. According to a federal search warrant affidavit used to search Vennes’ Minnetonka home Sept. 24, Vennes hauled in more than $28 million in commissions for his alleged role in luring five investors to pony up $1.2 billion in Petters’ alleged giant Ponzi scheme. Vennes has not yet been charged in the alleged caper.

Bachmann cited Vennes’ reported work with charitable organizations as justification for a pardon for the crimes he committed. Vennes pleaded guilty and no contest in 1987 to federal charges of money laundering, cocaine distribution and illegal firearms sales. He was sentenced to five years in prison, which he served at Sandstone Federal Correctional Institution in Sandstone, Minn.

Bachmann wrote:

“As a U.S. Representative, I am confident of Mr. Vennes’ successful rehabilitation and that a pardon will be good for the neediest of society. Mr. Vennes is seeking a pardon so that he may be further used to help others. As I know from personal experience, Mr. Vennes has used his business position and success to fund hundreds of nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping the neediest in our society. The Fidelis Foundation, backed by Mr. Vennes, has directed over $10.7 million in total gifts in the last three years, and the Fidelis Foundation has ranked #6, #9 and #7 as the largest grant-making foundation in Minnesota over the past three years.”

The Fidelis Foundation is a Plymouth, Minn.-based nonprofit organization “organized to assist Christians in discerning, clarifying and implementing God’s call and direction in their life,” according to the group’s tax filings. Its chairman is G. Craig Howse, Vennes’ lawyer, and the organization leases office space from Howse for $1,300 a month.

Howse has donated $5,000 to Bachmann’s campaign committee since 2007.

Bachmann notes in her letter that Vennes needs a pardon “so he can help more people than he does. Despite his success, Mr. Vennes still encounters the barriers of his past and especially in the area of finance loan documents. This hinders his ability to expand his business which places limits on the support to the neediest in society … a pardon would release the weights of the past that serve no purpose, as Mr. Vennes has stated his desire to help so many more.”

It’s still not clear why Bachmann used her congressional status to try to leverage a presidential pardon for someone who does not even live in her congressional district. At this point, the only apparent connection between Vennes and Bachmann as a congressperson is the $27,400 Vennes and his wife, Kimberly, have donated to Bachmann’s campaign funds since 2005, making the couple among Bachmann’s largest individual contributors. Vennes’ brother and his wife, Greg and Stephanie Vennes, have donated an additional $8,400 to Bachmann since 2005.

It’s also not known whether Bachmann intends to return or donate to charity any or all of the campaign contributions received from the Vennes. Other politicians or candidates who have received campaign donations tainted by the Petters scandal — including Bachmann’s 6th District Democratic opponent, Elwyn Tinklenberg — have done so.

Further clarification on these and other points regarding Bachmann’s relationship with Frank Vennes Jr. has been requested from the congresswoman’s office.