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DNC Chair Kaine: Today's Ruling "Marks The End Of The Line For Norm Coleman's Legal Battle"

Democratic National Committee chairman Tim Kaine has released this statement on Al Franken's victory at the Minnesota Supreme Court:

"On behalf of the Democratic National Committee, I congratulate Al Franken on his election to the United States Senate. Senator-Elect Franken must be seated as soon as possible. The people of Minnesota rightfully elected Al Franken to serve in the Senate and there is far too much work to be done for the state and the nation to drag this process on any longer."

"Today's ruling from the Minnesota Supreme Court marks the end of the line for Norm Coleman's legal battle. For too long, Minnesotans have been denied their proper representation in Congress while Norm Coleman pursued his political ambitions. In light of today's decision, Norm Coleman should concede and Governor Pawlenty should sign the election certificate which Al Franken is entitled to, and which he pledged to do upon guidance from the court. Doing so will finally put this saga to an end and give Minnesotans their full voice in the U.S. Senate."

It should be noted that Coleman's legal battle theoretically could keep going, if he were to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court and be able to get an injunction against certifying Franken's victory. That scenario doesn't seem too likely, but we'll see how this all plays out.


3 Comments

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End of the line legally, just not morally for the GOP.

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Well-stated Chairman Kaine!

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I'm not so sure Pawlenty is going to sign. The statute says the governor originates and the secretary of state countersigns: https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/statutes/?id=204c.40

It doesn't address when a disputed election is considered resolved, and the decision doesn't specifically order Pawlenty to sign. It just says, "For all of the foregoing reasons, we affirm the decision of the trial court that Al Franken received the highest number of votes legally cast and is entitled under Minn.
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Stat. § 204C.40 (2008) to receive the certificate of election as United States Senator from the State of Minnesota.22" The 22 refers to a footnote mentioning a petition for rehearing. So Coleman, even before going federal, could ask for a rehearing, though I don't know what his reason would be.
http://www.mncourts.gov/opinions/sc/current/OPA090697-6030.pdf

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