Michele Bachmann linked to alleged big-time swindler and Tom Petters associate

[Minnesota Raindog]

You can always tell a lot about someone by the company they keep:

http://dumpbachmann.blogspot.com/2008/10/breaking-michele-bachman-linked-to-ex.html

The Star Tribune: reports today Frank Vennes is one of the people caught up in the Federal investigation of Tom Petters. Petters is alleged to have operated a massive Ponzi scheme.

According to a federal search warrant affidavit, Vennes was a facilitator who persuaded five major investors to invest $1.2 billion in companies controlled by Petters. The document says Vennes collected more than $28 million in commissions for his work.

The Strib also reports that Frank Vennes has a connection to Michele Bachmann:

Federal election records show Vennes gives liberally to conservative political organizations and candidates. In 2006, he and his family were the top contributors to U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann. This year, he's given her campaign $4,600.

Bachmann chief of staff Michelle Marston acknowledged Friday that Bachmann was one of several political officials approached by Vennes for a recommendation for a pardon from President Bush for his 1986 crime. Bachmann wrote a letter in favor of consideration last year but withdrew it Thursday after learning of new allegations, Marston said.

[CatholicEdHead]

1. This was the guy from Shoreview, right?

[Minnesota Raindog]

2. Frank Vennes is from Shorewood (Lake Minnetonka area)

He's not a constituent of Bachmann's, just a fat-cat ex-con donor.

[CatholicEdHead]

3. Ok, for some reason I first read it in the paper as Shoreview

[Avidor]

4. There's more...

http://dumpbachmann.blogspot.com/

[Minnesota Raindog]

5. Questions abound about Bachmann's ties to ex-con embroiled in Petters scandal

http://dumpbachmann.blogspot.com/2008/10/was-frank-vennes-jr-wolf-in-sheeps.html

[hermetic]

6. I like how this is getting around.

Today I see it here, http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/politics/ , a science blog, under the title Forget Palin.

And he linked to another article about MB found here, http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2008/10/michele_bachmann_meltdown_jesu.php

Ha ha!

[Minnesota Raindog]

7. And still more on Bachmann's pardon letter here

http://tinyurl.com/4p8aph

[Avidor]

8. MICHELE BACHMANN'S TAINTED CAMPAIGN MONEY

Will Bachmann continue to run her campaign on ill-gotten money from swindlers?

http://is.gd/3IMd

[dflprincess]

11. Of course she will

next question?

[Avidor]

9. MICHELE BACHMANN'S TAINTED CAMPAIGN MONEY

Will Bachmann continue to run her campaign on ill-gotten money from swindlers?

http://is.gd/3IMd

[Avidor]

10. MICHELE BACHMANN'S TAINTED CAMPAIGN MONEY

Will Bachmann continue to run her campaign on ill-gotten money from swindlers?

http://is.gd/3IMd

[Another Bill C.]

12. I wouldn't push this one.

Tom Petters gave $8300 to Oberstar this year and $8400 to Klobuchar in 2006.
Check opensecrets.org

[Minnesota Raindog]

13. Sorry, we'll be pushing this one till Election Day

Bachmann is in WAY deeper with this crowd than a solitary campaign contribution. This is her October Surprise. If you think we're going to bury this story to cover for Oberstar and Klobuchar, think again. They all should give their donations to charity like Klobuchar and Tinklenberg have:

http://minnesotaindependent.com/12340/dirty-money-tracking-the-political-contributions-of-tom-petters