Key Player Not Denying Allegations Against Coleman

By Zachary Roth - November 2, 2008
TPM Muckraker

In the last few days, Norm Coleman, who's in a desperate fight to hold onto his U.S. Senate in Minnesota, has had to answer questions about appearing in a suit filed against one of his supporters, a politically connected multimillionaire named Nasser Kazeminy.

Paul McKim alleges in the suit that last year Kazeminy used Deep Marine Technologies to funnel $75,000 to Coleman, a Republican, through the Hays Companies, an insurance brokerage that employs Coleman's wife, Laurie. McKim was formerly the CEO of Deep Marine, which Kazeminy owns.

The suit claims that Deep Marine last year sent money to Hays in three $25,000 installments. These payments, it alleges, were a way for Kazeminy to get money to Coleman, rather than payments for legitimate insurance services provided by Hays.

Of course, these are only allegations -- one reason we've been wary of rushing to judgment here. But it's worth noting that Hay's owner, Jim Hays, doesn't seem to be strongly denying the charges that his firm was involved in the alleged scheme.

(More here.)