The story of Michele Bachmann's top staff defection in Iowa just doesn't seem to go away. On Sunday, Texas congressman Ron Paul flat-out denied that his campaign offered any money to win the defection of Iowa state senator Kent Sorenson, formerly Bachmann's Iowa campaign chairman. "If she has any evidence, she should bring it forth," Paul told Fox News Sunday's Chris Wallace. "Because if she makes charges like that she should be able to defend it… but no, that did not happen." Bachmann, who accused Sorenson of selling out, has been telling reporters that she was told directly by Sorenson of the money offer from the Paul campaign. She's also shared her mobile phone log (which apparently proves they talked) and gotten some back-up from at least one former Sorenson campaign staffer, who has questioned Sorenson's integrity. Sorenson, a colorful character with Tea Party roots, bolted Wednesday. He said he hasn't "taken a nickel" from the Paul forces. He got some backup from former Bachmann political director Wes Enos, who left too. Wherever the truth lies, it's been a multi-cycle distraction for Bachmann in the waning days of the critical Iowa caucuses on Tuesday.