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Coleman Team: 'Set Aside' This Election

GOP defense rests most of case; now it's Franken's turn

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 3, 2009 8:35 AM CST

(Newser) – A lawyer for Norm Coleman suggested the election should be "set aside" in a letter to the court reviewing Minnesota’s US Senate election results, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports. “Some courts have held that when the number of illegal votes exceeds the margin between the candidates—and it cannot be determined for which candidate those illegal votes were cast—the most appropriate remedy is to set aside the election.”

The Republican’s team largely rested its case yesterday following testimony from the state elections director that acknowledged the election system is flawed. Lawyers for Al Franken, who leads the race by 225 votes, will begin making their case today, describing “how the system worked, by and large”—but leaving room to challenge the rejection of 804 ballots. Coleman wants 2,000 rejected ballots counted.

Democratic Senate candidate Al Franken, with his wife Franni at his side, speaks to members of the media Monday Jan. 5, 2009.
Democratic Senate candidate Al Franken, with his wife Franni at his side, speaks to members of the media Monday Jan. 5, 2009.   (AP Photo/Dawn Villella)
David Lillehaug, representing Democrat Al Franken, shows a list of rejected absentee ballots on Norm Coleman's website and highlights the names that the Coleman campaign vetoed for counting.
David Lillehaug, representing Democrat Al Franken, shows a list of rejected absentee ballots on Norm Coleman's website and highlights the names that the Coleman campaign vetoed for counting.   (AP Photo/Jean Pieri)
Al Franken attorney Kevin Hamilton, center, visits with Norm Coleman attorneys yesterday in St. Paul, Minn.
Al Franken attorney Kevin Hamilton, center, visits with Norm Coleman attorneys yesterday in St. Paul, Minn.   (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Norm Coleman listens as a witness is examined by his attorney during court session Thursday, Jan.29, 2008 in St. Paul, Minn.
Norm Coleman listens as a witness is examined by his attorney during court session Thursday, Jan.29, 2008 in St. Paul, Minn.   (AP Photo/Ben Garvin)
Norm Coleman attorney Jim Langdon, who wrote the letter to the court.
Norm Coleman attorney Jim Langdon, who wrote the letter to the court.   (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 18 comments
northeast
Mar 3, 2009 5:43 AM CST
Clearly, Democrats can also do no wrong whatsoever. Speaking of Foley, you may want to look up what happened to the Dem who took his seat. Don't want to spoil too much, but it's amusing.
Doctor-Zaius
Mar 3, 2009 5:11 AM CST
Don't forget the Fl state congressman who was afraid of black people so he offered a black man 20 bucks so he (the congressman) could blow the black guy. Too bad the black guy was an undercover cop. OOPS! And just who was signing off on Jeff Gannon's daily press clearance to the white house. you remember him, the gay prostitute pretending to be a news reporter...
Doctor-Zaius
Mar 3, 2009 5:08 AM CST
Franken is actually an intelligent guy, unlike DUB-YA who couldn't find his ass with both hands if you crazy glued his fingertips to his butt-cheeks.

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