Associated Press: Despite Requests, Coleman Campaign Has Not Produced Evidence Of Franken's Involvement. "Despite requests, Coleman campaign manager Cullen Sheehan didn't produce hard evidence of Franken's involvement." [AP, 11/1/08]I still beg the question, why would a sitting Senator go so far as to blatantly lie about something that they claim they are totally innocent of?
Pioneer Press: Coleman Campaign Did Not Offer Any Evidence Franken Or Democrats Are Behind The Lawsuit. "Coleman campaign manager Cullen Sheehan today didn't offer any new evidence that Franken or Democrats are behind the lawsuit. Sheehan said today, as Coleman said yesterday, that since the Minneapolis-based Star Tribune received the allegations before the lawsuit was filed." [Pioneer Press, Political Animal, 11/1/08]
Esme Murphy (WCCO): "There Is Absolutely No Evidence, None, That Al Franken Or Anyone Associated With His Campaign Is Behind The Two Lawsuits. "Norm Coleman is accusing Al Franken of smearing his wife. The problem is there is absolutely no evidence, none, that Al Franken or anyone associated with his campaign is behind the two lawsuits that allege that a top Coleman campaign donor funneled 75,000 dollar to the Senator's wife Laurie. If there was evidence of a direct link it would be a helluva story." [Esme Murphy, WCCO's "Esme's Blog," 11/1/08]
MinnPost: There Is Zero Proof That Franken Had Anything To Do With "Donor Gate." "There is zero proof that Franken had anything to do with DonorGate, which the Pioneer Press noted today. The Coleman campaign has provided nothing indicating otherwise." [MinnPost, 11/1/08]
Jodi Ambroz (KMSP-TV): Coleman Campaign Won't Release Any Evidence Showing A Connection Between The Franken Campaign And The Lawsuit. "Coleman's campaign continues to make these accusations against the DFL but they won't release any evidence showing a connection between the party or the Franken campaign and the lawsuit." [KMSP-TV, 6pm News, 11/1/08]
Flash
From the Campaign:
From: Andy Barr, Al Franken for Senate
Date: Sun, Nov 2, 2008 at 11:59 AM
Subject: Please read this email
Dear Friend,
It has been a long campaign, and a tough one. Norm Coleman has sunk to historic depths to smear Al Franken and make this election about something, anything other than his own record and the issues that affect the people of Minnesota.
But what Norm Coleman did yesterday was something else entirely, and you need to know the truth.
Here's the story: A Republican businessman in Texas by the name of Paul McKim filed a lawsuit this week against Nasser Kazeminy. Kazeminy is one of Norm Coleman's biggest donors and closest friends - he's the same man who flew Coleman on his private jet to vacations in the Bahamas and Paris.
Only a small portion of the lawsuit has anything to do with Norm Coleman - but the part that does is incredibly serious. McKim's sworn affidavit, since corroborated by a second lawsuit, describes an effort to funnel $100,000 to Senator Coleman.
So are the allegations true? We don't know. In fact, we at the campaign didn't know a thing about this lawsuit, had never heard of this company or Paul McKim, until we read about it in the newspaper.
Then came yesterday. Instead of answering these very serious allegations, Norm Coleman released the most dishonest ad of the year, blaming Al for the lawsuit.
That ad is up on TV right now. And it's a despicable lie. Al Franken had nothing to do with this lawsuit.
Norm Coleman, faced with sworn allegations of a conspiracy to funnel him improper payments, is trying to deflect blame by lying about Al Franken in a TV ad. No matter what candidate you support or what party you belong to, it is a sad day.
With just a couple of days left, the only way we can stop him is with the truth. After all, that's what Al's always been about: letting the truth carry the day.
But we need your help. Please forward this email to everyone you know. And please know that no matter what happens in this election, you can be proud that you were part of this campaign.
Thank you for all you do,
Andy Barr
Al Franken for Senate
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