Report: Coleman’s illicit funds helped pay for home renovations.
Report: Coleman’s illicit funds helped pay for home renovations.
Earlier this week, news reports indicated that the FBI is investigating allegations that Nasser Kazeminy, a Minnesota businessman “tried to funnel $75,000″ to Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) through his wife. Now, a Minnesota Fox News affiliate reports that the timing of the payments suggest that the funds were used to pay for a portion of the senator’s home renovations:
[Coleman's] campaign did agree to share billing records of the remodeling project. Original projections in 2006 estimated a cost of $328,000, but four months later, the construction cost was estimated at $414,000, over-budget by $86,000.
During that time is when, the lawsuit alleges, Kazeminy was trying to get money to Coleman. According to the lawsuits, in March of 2007, Kazeminy said that “U.S. Senators don’t make s—” and he was going to try to find a way to get money to Coleman.
The renovations included remodeling the Colemans’ kitchen, which Coleman showed off in a recent campaign ad:
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HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!
Oh, Karma, you’re *such* a comedian!!
December 12th, 2008 at 12:50 pmThis is great. Coleman will be declared the winner in his tight race for the Senate just in time for him to be indicted for a couple felonies that will result in him having to leave office “to spend more time with family.”
Like Sam Kinison said long ago “You can’t dream this stuff up.”
December 12th, 2008 at 12:54 pmI wonder how Coleman’s dad is doing?
¶ AIO
December 12th, 2008 at 12:56 pmHow soon until this clown is fitted for an orange jumpsuit?
December 12th, 2008 at 12:57 pmThere’s a good case to be made here for runoff elections instead of hyper-detailed recounts. Coleman would be toast by now if Minnesotans got to go back to the polls.
December 12th, 2008 at 1:00 pmPS – and I really liked the quick peek at her coffee cup-holding left hand prominently featuring a traditional wedding ring, just in case anyone suspected Norm might swing the other way!
December 12th, 2008 at 1:02 pmAh, it’s the Ted Stevens Home-Improvement Financing Plan. Wish I could get one of those. I need a new kitchen, badly.
December 12th, 2008 at 1:04 pmMore dirty politicians? I am shocked! shocked I tell you.
December 12th, 2008 at 1:06 pm“U.S. Senators don’t make s—”
The Republicans ones do, only they refer to it as “legislation”.
December 12th, 2008 at 1:09 pmHear this O’Reilly and O’Shannity, Al Franken may get this gig after all.
¶ AIO
December 12th, 2008 at 1:16 pmColeman will be declared the winner in his tight race for the Senate just in time for him to be indicted for a couple felonies
Actually, the state canvassing board is meeting today and has decided to allow the counting of 1,600 absentee ballots that had been excluded due to clerical error. Franken should have an edge amongst these votes as he was favored by absentee votes that have been counted.
Coleman may very well lose this election despite his current ~200-vote lead.
December 12th, 2008 at 1:17 pmI’m beginning to think that the most direct way for a lobbyist to get to a public servant is through home renovations. It seems to be epidemic!
December 12th, 2008 at 1:28 pmWell, after all, he is a REPUBLISCUM, and that is what they do…they just LOVE the CORRUPTION.
December 12th, 2008 at 1:31 pmWhen finally caught
December 12th, 2008 at 1:34 pmThere is always that last hope
For home confinement
Well, another politician who will be able to find Jesus by going to prison. Funny how that works for the right wingers. And we wonder why they are never sorry BEFORE they get caught.
December 12th, 2008 at 1:43 pmjust received an email from the Franken campaign stating:
I am sure bradblog.com has this info… can not get to his site as I get timed out… must be too busy.
December 12th, 2008 at 1:57 pmJeebus, that woman looks more like his sister. Creepy.
December 12th, 2008 at 2:22 pmIn the Spirit of Christmas, I am wishing for Norm the opportunity to stay home in Minnesota and enjoy his remodeling. Let Franken go to Washington in his place.
December 12th, 2008 at 2:32 pmOriginal projections in 2006 estimated a cost of $328,000, but four months later, the construction cost was estimated at $414,000, over-budget by $86,000.
It so happens that I built and installed custom (really custom) cabinets and architectural woodwork for about 15 years. Kitchens on their own were a big part of my business, and also as a part of ‘whole house’ renovations.
I know from experience that the bigger the overall job, the more likely it will go over budget, for a variety of reasons, such as 1) the ‘budget’ is unrealistic to start with (because few designers and architects actually know how to budget and contractors usually offer ‘perfect’ bids). 2) ‘discovery’ during tear-down, reveals problems. 3) shit happens (see 2). Then 4) the client/designer changes their minds halfway through, 5) one contractor can hold up all the rest and 6) the job can be poorly managed.
Now going by what can been seen on the video and estimating somewhat the likely parts that can’t be seen, my company would have built, finished and installed the cabinets for I’d guess $30,000 to $45,000 (including interior and exterior hardware—there may be cabinets along the right opposite the island).
However I’d judge these cabinets to probably high-end pre-fab (not truly custom as I’d make) because the upper cabinet run from the corner stops some inches short of the window and its right hand edge doesn’t align with the lower cabinet—–symmetry and alignment is everything in the custom cabinet biz.
If creating that possible alignment wasn’t practical (or then made the uppers look lopsided in width) then there’s room there for a narrow shelf unit to fill the gap to the window and perhaps align with the vertical edge of the lower cabinet door-seam. Anywhoo….
Other work like the granite counter tops would probably be about $3,000–$4,000, the sink and faucets might be around $1,000 and then there’s the appliances—the visible wall oven, and cook-top, unseen fridge, dishwasher, range-hood which would add about another $3,500 (all stainless steel).
So I’d say the total kitchen renovation, just from what’s visible would be close to $40K for sure and I think more likely (with paint and flooring don’t forget) more like $50K.
December 12th, 2008 at 2:40 pmI am pretty sure I saw that episode of “Leave It to Beaver” That’s the one where Ward comes out of the closet right?
December 12th, 2008 at 3:26 pmNice kitchen, Colemans. Now exactly whose wallet did you get the money from?
December 12th, 2008 at 4:16 pmHere’s some extra info. on this ad. They weren’t even in the kitchen together. Laurie Coleman was taped in LA & dubbed into the seceen. Once again proving what a fake Norm is. Us Minnesotans deserve better than this POS. Wellstone please look down & help Franken finally win this election. Thank you God & Paul, amen.
December 13th, 2008 at 9:32 amColeman’s kitchen ads look suspiciously like the 2004 ads of discraced Senator David Vitter. Wonder if they had the same ad agency?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y2cI7tyjVg
December 14th, 2008 at 6:34 pmWhat a difference a political party makes. While Democrats whole hearted and unanomously denouce the action of the Chicago governor; not one Republican utters a comment on Colemans obvious impending legal problems.
December 14th, 2008 at 11:00 pmEchos of Ted Stevens; I gather Coleman will get a standing ovation as well soon.