DFL officials are asking the Senate Ethics Committee to investigate whether Sen. Norm Coleman's nonpayment of utility bills for 12 months at his Washington apartment violated the Senate's gift ban.
In a letter released Thursday, DFL Chairman Brian Melendez asked the committee to add the utility bill matter to an existing complaint about Coleman's living quarters that was filed last month by the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW).
The Coleman campaign on Wednesday released a copy of a $532.88 utilities check that Coleman's wife, Laurie, made out last month to businessman and Republican operative Jeff Larson, who owns the million-dollar Capitol Hill row house where Coleman rents a bedroom and bath. The campaign said that Coleman and Larson had agreed to settle his utility bill after a year in residence.
But DFL spokesman John Stiles said it's a prima facie violation of the gift ban, which prohibits lodging discounts and forbearance of payment. The existing complaint focuses on Coleman's $600 monthly rent, which the DFL insists is below market rate for that area of Washington.
Asked for copies of Coleman's utility bills, campaign spokesman Mark Drake said he would see if that can be arranged. Drake reiterated that Coleman has been open about his apartment and called on DFL Senate candidate Al Franken to exhibit the same candor about his income tax mishaps.
KEVIN DUCHSCHERE