Coleman Owes Franken $95K

During campaign he was wonky and even a bit boring

(NEWSER) - Liberals may be hoping for biting wit and conservatives for embarrassing shtick, but according to Bob Benenson of CQPolitics, Al Franken is likely to disappoint both when he finally arrives in the Senate. Throughout his campaign Franken displayed an impressive mastery of Minnesota issues and made clear his candidacy was not a lark. Some Dems even began to think of the SNL star as boring. More»

(NEWSER) - Norm Coleman isn't going to drag out Minnesota's Senate fight any longer. Coleman conceded the race to Al Franken today, hours after the state's Supreme Court decreed that Democrat Franken was the rightful winner of November's election, reports the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "Further litigation damages the unity of our state," said Coleman. "The future today is that we have a new United States senator." More»

But decision could take months

(NEWSER) - Minnesota’s Supreme Court will hear arguments today in the Senate seat dispute between Al Franken and Norm Coleman, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. If the court goes Franken’s way, he could be seated in Washington; if the five justices find for Coleman, “recounting-type” hurdles will remain before he could head to DC, said a legal expert. The decision could come in days—or months. More»

Ex-lawyer Coleman working case; Franken acting like senator

(NEWSER) - Norm Coleman and Al Franken take their protracted election battle to Minnesota's Supreme Court tomorrow, reports the Hill, in what could be its final stage. Lawyers on both sides have spent some 6 weeks readying their arguments—including Coleman, himself a lawyer. Franken, meanwhile, holding to a slim ballot advantage, has instead played the role of incoming senator. More»

(NEWSER) - The Minnesota Supreme Court agreed today to hear oral arguments in the Al Franken-Norm Coleman legal battle starting June 1, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. The appeal date is closer to a schedule proposed by Coleman, who appears to face an uphill battle in the Senate seat contest and sought more time to prepare. A Minnesota court recently ruled in favor of Franken, widening his lead to 312 votes. More»