Watchdog group calls for ethics investigation of Coleman

1 Jul 2008 // A government watchdog group is calling for a Senate ethics committee investigation into Republican Norm Coleman's Washington D.C. rental arrangement.

The National Journal reported last week that Coleman has missed payments for the Capitol Hill apartment he's been renting from long-time friend and political business associate Jeff Larson.

Democrats allege that the $600 a month Coleman is supposed to pay for the apartment is well below market value.

Melanie Sloan, Executive Director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, says Coleman appears to be violating rules that prohibit Senators from accepting certain types of gifts.

"This isn't a hidden rule. There's nothing tricky about it, and he's required to pay fair market value rent on an apartment that he's renting from this Republican operative, and it appears that Mr. Coleman may in fact not have been paying that rent because of their business relationship," said Sloan.

Coleman acknowledges that he missed rental payments, but says he's up-to-date now. Coleman insists he has not violated Senate rules, and that he's paying fair market value for the space that he is renting from Larson.