Bachmann Campaign Facing Congressional Ethics Probe

Michele Bachmann's presidential campaign is being investigated by the Office of Congressional Ethics, the Daily Beast reports in a piece comparing Bachmann to the Hindenburg and the Titanic. Federal investigators are looking into alleged campaign finance improprieties, and several former campaign staffers acknowledge they've been interviewed. The allegations of improper funds transfers and payments specifically relate to Guy Short, the campaign's national political director, and Kent Sorenson, the Iowa campaign chairman who jumped ship and joined up with Ron Paul.

Bachmann's campaign counsel notes, "There are no allegations that the Congresswoman engaged in any wrongdoing." Questions about Bachmann specifically have been focused on what she knew and when, former staffers say. It's just the latest in a series of problems for Bachmann—as John Avlon puts it, lawsuits have been "the only lasting legacy" of her campaign. He runs them down: There's one involving an allegedly stolen email list of Christian homeschoolers, and other complaints involving staffers who say they were never paid. Avlon also gets some fun quotes from disenchanted former Bachmann staffers. Sample: "She’s the Republican Dennis Kucinich." Click for more. (More Michele Bachmann stories.)