
Kline and Tennessee Republican Scott DesJarlais run as opponents of abortion rights. DesJarlais, a medical doctor, won a second term in November just as reports surfaced from a decade-old divorce case alleging that he had had an affair with a patient and pressured her to have an abortion.
Court papers released by the Tennessee Democratic Party shortly after his November re-election over Democrat Eric Stewart show that while practicing medicine, DesJarlais dated several patients, arranged with one to get an abortion, and agreed to an abortion for his then-wife.
"Congressman Kline's support for disgraced, Tea Party hypocrite Scott DesJarlais is just one more example of how out of touch Kline is with Minnesota,” said Andy Stone, a spokesman for the House Majority PAC, a Democratic aligned Super Pac that is targeting Kline in next year’s congressional elections.
Kline’s office said he was never scheduled to attend the March 19 fundraiser, and does not plan to attend. Kline’s name, however, appears as a host, along with GOP Reps. Darrell Issa of California and Frank Lucas of Oklahoma. A copy of the invitation, obtained by the Chattanooga Times Free Press, lists tickets at $500 per person and $1,000 for political action committees.
All three listed hosts chair House committees. Kline is chairman of the Education and Workforce Committee, which includes DesJarlais.
Kline spokesman Troy Young suggested that Kline’s role as host was merely an outgrowth of their committee work. “Kline has a working relationship with all of the members on his Education and the Workforce Committee,” he said.
But House Democrats argue that even if Kline doesn’t directly raise cash for DesJarlais at the event, lending his name is a show of support that sends a message to potential donors seeking influence with a powerful committee chairman.
"Congressman Kline has gone Washington,” said Brandon Lorenz of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). “Not only is he supporting a scandal-plagued Tea Party extremist like Scott Desjarlais, he's also helping him line his campaign war chest.”
DesJarlais told Nashville television station WKRN in January that "God has forgiven” him, and asked "constituents and fellow Christians to do the same."
According to the Times Free Press, he already faces a 2014 GOP challenge from state Sen. Jim Tracy, and a “likely challenge” from state Rep. Joe Carr.
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More From Star Tribune
More From Politics
Nation

Biden's focus on bashing Trump takes a page from the winning Obama and Bush reelection playbooks
President Joe Biden's campaign manager recently sent a fundraising email meant to reassure supporters worried about the Democrat's reelection chances, urging them to take a ''quick walk down memory lane.''
World
Hong Kong holds first council elections under new rules that shut out pro-democracy candidates
Residents went to the polls on Sunday in Hong Kong's first district council elections since an electoral overhaul was implemented under Beijing's guidance of ''patriots'' administering the city, effectively shutting out all pro-democracy candidates.
Business

Elon Musk restores X account of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones
Elon Musk has restored the X account of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, pointing to a poll on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter that came out in favor of the Infowars host who repeatedly called the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting a hoax.
Nation
At DC roast, Joe Manchin jokes he could be the slightly younger president America needs
Sen. Joe Manchin used a weekend Washington roast to tease a potential third-party run for the White House, joking that the nation could use someone slightly younger than the leading contenders.
Nation

New US aid for Ukraine by year-end seems increasingly out of reach as GOP ties it to border security
A deal to provide further U.S. assistance to Ukraine by year-end appears to be increasingly out of reach for President Joe Biden. The impasse is deepening in Congress despite dire warnings from the White House about the consequences of inaction as Republicans insist on pairing the aid with changes to America's immigration and border policies.