By Kevin Diaz
Michelle Marston, Rep. Michele Bachmann's top congressional and political aide, confirmed Wednesday that she is leaving. She gave no explanation. Her departure, reported earlier in the day by Politico's Jonathan Allen, comes on the eve of the Minnesota Republican's first major event in Washington, a "house call" rally on the Capitol steps to oppose the Democrats' health reform plan. Thursday's rally, which Bachmann announced last week during one of her frequent appearances on Fox News with conservative pundit Sean Hannity, is attracting busloads of supporters from around the country. Marston, credited with raising Bachmann's national profile since she became her chief of staff last year, told Hot Dish in an email "I really don't have anything to say" about the departure. A 39-year-old lawyer, Marston has worked in five previous congressional offices since beginning her career on Capitol Hill in 1992, records show. Bachmann spokesman Dave Dziok said he could not comment on "personnel matters," except to say that Marston is working in the office until the end of the week. No replacement has been named.
