suitgate

Transcript of Coleman’s October 10 press conference.
I had originally planned to exclusively talk about the economy and the financial crisis, which I still intend to address. But, these are fearful anxious times – and people are looking for hope and confidence and leadership.
So, today, I want to talk about hope and confidence and real concerns [...]

The figure of Nasser Kazeminy — longtime Norm Coleman friend and patron — is once again casting a shadow over the US Senate campaign. Kazeminy, the man who may or may not have purchased suits for Coleman at Neiman-Marcus once upon a time, was reportedly accused in a lawsuit filed (and withdrawn) this week of funneling money to Coleman’s wife, Laurie Coleman, through a third party.

We know this because there is videotape (published this morning at MnIndy) of Star Tribune reporter Paul McEnroe asking Coleman — or rather, the closed window of Coleman’s SUV — about it.

But whereas McEnroe and Kennedy’s previous inquiries into the Coleman/Kazeminy relationship (the Neiman-Marcus affair) never yielded a story in the paper, this one has to. A quick recapitulation of the main known facts in the matter explains why.

In the two weeks that have passed since the first public airing of claims that Sen. Norm Coleman received clothing from Neiman Marcus purchased by a wealthy friend named Nasser Kazeminy, we’ve heard  rumors that Star Tribune reporters Paul McEnroe and Tony Kennedy have looked into the story extensively.
One version of the rumor held that [...]

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 [...]

At the press availability event Thursday, the one that barred Minnesota Independent and The UpTake, Sen. Norm Coleman attempted to address recent concerns about whether Nasser Kazeminy paid for his suits. The Pioneer Press’ Rachel Stassen-Berger has the transcript of the event.
While I have answered honestly the question about suits and jobs – I will [...]

The mini-scandal over whether Sen. Norm Coleman received gifts of men’s haberdashery has a name — “Suitgate” — and it’s gaining national attention, and not just on the blogs. Yesterday MSNBC interviewed the Star Tribune’s Patricia Lopez about the issue, which was exacerbated this week when Coleman spokesman Cullen Sheehan refused to directly answer questions [...]