Minn. Denies Franken Certification Bid

Minnesota officials turned down Al Franken’s request that he be certified as senator, the AP reports, just hours after his attorneys argued that a waiting period had passed for challenges. Though Franken emerged from the recount 225 votes ahead of incumbent Republican Norm Coleman, Coleman is challenging the result in court, the Hill adds.

Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Democratic Secretary of State Mark Ritchie reminded Franken’s camp that they weren’t allowed to certify the election while legal action was continuing. Countered a Franken rep: “We believe that both under federal law and under the US Constitution, the governor and the secretary of state have an obligation at this point to issue the certificate.” (More Al Franken stories.)