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Charlie Neibergall / AP file
U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., speaks at a rally by home-school advocates in March 2011 at the Statehouse in Des Moines, Iowa.
Eight months after Michele Bachmann's 2012 presidential bid ground to a halt in Iowa, her campaign manager there signed a sworn affidavit, pointing his finger at another top staffer in a still-simmering dispute over the misuse of a contact list of home-school family names.
The Sept. 4 affidavit – first reported by the Iowa Republican and obtained Friday by NBC News – was written by Bachmann's Iowa adviser Eric Woolson, and accuses former State Sen. Kent Sorenson of stealing the list from another Bachmann staffer. Sorenson was the campaign’s state chairman at the time.
"We took it," Woolson says Sorenson told him.
The list was the at the center of a flap late in Bachmann's presidential run, when a powerful Iowa home-school network called “NICHE” complained that its collection of contacts for thousands of home-school families had been mined by the campaign and used to expand its fundraising.
At the time, the campaign called the emails a "mistake." The campaign agreed to pay NICHE, a 501c3 nonprofit, several thousand dollars in order to keep the group compliant with federal elections law.
But in his affidavit, Woolson says he approached Sorenson on the same day the fundraising emails were sent, and was told the list had been stolen.
"Kent smiled at me and said, 'Do you want to know how it happened?'" Woolson writes, adding:
I said, "No," and tried to back out of his office.
Kent said, "We took it." Kent said they weren't getting anything from Barb (Heki), so when she stepped out of the office they took it.
Kent said, "We stood watch."
Woolson appears to corroborate the account of the alleged victim, Barb Heki, who last summer filed a lawsuit against Bachmann and other high-ranking staff, including Sorenson and Woolson.
Heki, who was the campaign's Homeschool Coalitions Director and a NICHE member, says she was unjustly blamed for leaking the list and that she and her husband later lost their seats on the group's board. Heki alleged senior staff was aware of what Sorenson had done but allowed her reputation to suffer.
Sorenson has long denied taking the list, saying he helped negotiate the solution with NICHE.
"Nothing new here," he said over text message Friday. "Same story being recycled."
Sorenson later bolted Bachmann's campaign for the Ron Paul team – a high-profile defection that helped cripple her campaign days before the caucuses.
Lawyers for the Bachmann campaign have also disputed Heki's claims.
A court filing this summer called the case a “broad brush, shotgun approach” that “fails to inform Michele Bachmann… and the other named defendants (other than perhaps Kent Sorenson) what they did wrong.”
A Polk County Judge on Jan. 30 denied the defendants' motion to dismiss the suit.
In his affidavit, Woolson says Heki ultimately learned details of the alleged theft from Bachmann herself, during a staff party the day after Bachmann quit the presidential race.
"Barb approached me and said Michele Bachmann told her Kent Sorenson had taken the NICHE list and asked me if it was true," Woolson says. "I nodded yes."
Bachmann's campaign lawyer and congressional office did not immediately respond to a request for a comment.
Woolson's name was dropped from Heki's lawsuit sometime after he signed the affidavit. He declined to comment for this story.
Bachmann dropped out of the presidential race one day after finishing last among the candidates competing in the Jan. 3, 2012, caucuses.
Follow Jamie Novogrod on Twitter at @JamieNBCNews.
Leave a Comment:
If the Benghazy story Fox News will close its operations
???????????
A conveniently timed story to detract from the coverage of the shamed Demosocialist Chicago congressman.
Who would Jesus sue???
No one.
the tea party disciples
The left wing loons
Trim, tight, torrid, tempestuous, tantalizing Michele Bachmann is bold, brilliant, & beautiful. Her honesty, integrity, & veracity are unassailable.
tell your little head ..calm down..he is thinking for you
Every campaign uses "lists" of some sort. I've been involved several. How do you think they find supporters, sit around and pray the phone will ring? This isn't illegal or immoral and it's not NEWS! What is wrong with the IQ of the people raging about this?
corruption is corruption D or R..
Senator Menendez is giving the dems more than a black eye and so MSN goes after Bachman to try to even the score.
Haven't seen one article on MSN on SENATOR MENENDEZ, if he were a republican it would be cover page news everyday.
AND, how about Jessie Jackson, JR.....Dems are as dirty as the republican. CROOKS, LIARS and THIEVES!!!
Where there is smoke there is fire....MENENDEZ IS DIRTY!!!!
Don't forget Jesse Jackson Jr. The poster child of Demosocialist Chicago politics
I already did ..ulysesses..
I'm sure. The old "head in the sand" mentality.
we need to go after corruption do not defend wrong dumb azz
Tell those cronies of yours on the left side of the aisle to set the example. Not just point the finger so they don't have to take responsbility for their own transgressions
Jackson is guilty..this from a liberal
If someone choses politics for a profession, Republican or Democrat, they likely are or will become guilty of something untowards.
Thank you, Ulysesees. The politicians are not about working together for the good of the people, they are about causing division amongst the people so that they can form a team that is bound to keep voting them into office. Doesn't matter who is on the team; as long as they can be bought, they get to wear the team colors.
Still would love to see a mud wrestling contest between Bachmann and Palin.
You GOPers are amazing! You're defending a whack job like Bachman while attacking Obama; meanwhile you're running headlong into the next election. Maybe you need to quit looking in the rear view mirrors and notice that you're running right into Hillary!
If you're defending Obama, you are defending a whack job.
He the liberal media got something on a conservative. YOU GOT TO BE JOKING?
You have a left wing democrat congressman from Chicago showing off his $40,000 Rolex
and it is perfectly acceptable to accept his mea culpa, mea culpa for stealing public money.
You have a former Secretary of State lying to the American people about her roll with the Benghazi
murders of 4 AMERICANS. If this is the only thing this reporter can come with--crawl back into that
dirty hole you came from and be happy.
@JB
I couldn't agree with you more. And, lets not forget Menendez, a story that has had no coverages from the liberal media.
Every campaign uses lists. Do you think they all sit around trying to remember their mother's phone number? How many of these complainers have ever been involved in a campaign? What about the clueless writer? These are rhetorical questions.
Wasn't there a list that recently came to light that was hatched from the Obama campaign? Did I imagine that?
Lay down with dogs, you get up with fleas.
My favorite analogy. And there are a lot of dogs on both sides of the aisle.
Yet Obama turns over the DNC donor list for his anti-second amendment agenda and this is just fine.
As Bachmann became a Swiss citizen during the primary, she is not fit to hold ANY elected office in the US.
hahahahahaha
Are you calling for an Executive Order on that one too?
Ulysess. Since when can citizens of other countries get elected in the US?
Since November 2008
WHOA stop the presses, forget Benghazi, this is a HOT story!!!!
they Will get the killers...and also this so called christian
You will find Benghazi on Fox for at least a couple more years.
Anyone out there that thinks this delusional POS was qualified to run this country needs serious help.
The Obamao?
No...I was referring to some stupid ass ignorant @!$%# who is more than likely affiliated with the Tea party (you know, the group of jackoffs hell bent on destroying this country) named manno.
Need a kleenex manno? Congrats on being a delusional POS too just like bachmann.
We have all the lies, obstruction of justice, and cover ups by Obama, Holder, Clinton and the rest of the thugs and criminals of the Administration with regard to Benghazi, Fast and Furious, etc etc involving DEAD Americans and the Leftist media is worrying about a STUPID LIST?!!! What about this incredible (and probably illegal) database that the Obama Admin has according to that moron Maxine Waters; where is the investigation about that?!!!
bill please tell us whats in it???
That's what I'd like to know but the Obamalovin media will not investigate anything that will potentially hurt their hero and god
Was her husbands dad in Bachmann Turner Ovedrive?
Takin Care of Business.......
Knarly bunch of Canadians.
Nope. The Village People. He was the hair dresser.
Are you sure it was the list of donors or her husband's little "black book" of male prostitutes he frequently met when Mrs. 666 Bachmann campaigned
I understand he called you, so probably not.
NBC is so misguided.... We have a $16.5 Trillion debt that is about to collapse the country........ and they are going back to look at a potential voter list from the Iowa primary almost 2 years ago? Geez.....how deep will you dig until you find some kind of dust on Republican women? Talk about a war on women......
There are lots of stories on NBC about lots of topics. Maybe you could find some kids in your neighborhood who can teach you how to find them.
shes the anti christ. enough said.
the whole tea party is the anti-christ party
You seem to be as ignorant as most of the people from Dacia.
So Bachmann gets in trouble for selling her list a week after Obama doesn't get in trouble for selling his list. Hypocrisy.
what in the hell are you talking about
He's talking about Obama making his donor list available for his anti-second amendment lobbying tirade. Now, put your head back in before Obama decides to sit down.
I just had a thought. What if Rove is behind this smear, because all of a sudden he is against the Tea Party part of the Republicans?
yeah that's right..a man who help create the tea party..now against
The Tea Party was the driving force behind the republicans success in the 2010 mid-term elections. And now they are responsible for congress having a lower approval rating than herpes, cockroaches and hemorrhoids.
Jim
Where do you find those approval ratings for herpes, cockroaches and hemorrhoids?
hahahah..jim is right..those rodents have a higher approval rating
« Congress somewhere below cockroaches, traffic jams, and Nickelback in Americans' esteem | Main | »
January 08, 2013
Congress less popular than cockroaches, traffic jams
Raleigh, N.C. – Facing low approval ratings after a historically unproductive 112th session and a series of last-minute showdowns over fiscal matters, Congress is now less popular than root canals, NFL replacement referees, head lice, the rock band Nickelback, colonoscopies, carnies, traffic jams, cockroaches, Donald Trump, France, Genghis Khan, used-car salesmen and Brussel sprouts.
When asked if they have a higher opinion of either Congress or a series of unpleasant or disliked things, voters said they had a higher opinion of root canals (32 for Congress and 56 for the dental procedure), NFL replacement refs (29-56), head lice (19-67), the rock band Nickelback (32-39), colonoscopies (31-58), Washington DC political pundits (34-37), carnies (31-39), traffic jams (34-56), cockroaches (43-45), Donald Trump (42-44), France (37-46), Genghis Khan (37-41), used-car salesmen (32-57), and Brussels sprouts (23-69) than Congress.
Congress did manage to beat out telemarketers (45-35), John Edwards (45-29), the Kardashians (49-36), lobbyists (48-30), North Korea (61-26), the ebola virus (53-25), Lindsay Lohan (45-41), Fidel Castro (54-32), playground bullies (43-38), meth labs (60-21), communism (57-23), and gonorrhea (53-28).
Congress’s overall favorability rating stands at just 9% favorable and 85% unfavorable. Women (13-81) view Congress slightly more favorably than men (6-89), as do Democrats (13-82) than Republicans (9-87), perhaps reflecting Democrats’ higher level of satisfaction with the recent fiscal cliff deal. Among ideological groups voters who describe themselves as “very liberal” have a higher than single-digit approval rating, with 36% holding a favorable view and 56% unfavorable.
“We all know Congress is unpopular,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “But the fact that voters like it even less than cockroaches, lice, and Genghis Khan really shows how far its esteem has fallen with the American public over the last few weeks.”
PPP surveyed 830 American voters from January 3rd to 6th. The margin of error is +/-3.4 percentage points. This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Congress?
Favorable........................................................ 9%
Unfavorable .................................................... 85%
Not sure .......................................................... 6%
Q2 What do you have a higher opinion of:
Congress or telemarketers?
Congress ........................................................ 45%
Telemarketers ................................................. 35%
Not sure .......................................................... 19%
Q3 What do you have a higher opinion of:
Congress or John Edwards?
Congress ........................................................ 45%
John Edwards ................................................. 29%
Not sure .......................................................... 26%
Q4 What do you have a higher opinion of:
Congress or root canals?
Congress ........................................................ 32%
Root canals..................................................... 56%
Not sure .......................................................... 12%
Q5 What do you have a higher opinion of:
Congress or NFL replacement refs?
Congress ........................................................ 29%
NFL replacement refs ..................................... 56%
Not sure .......................................................... 15%
Q6 What do you have a higher opinion of:
Congress or lice?
Congress ........................................................ 19%
Lice ................................................................. 67%
Not sure .......................................................... 15%
Q7 What do you have a higher opinion of:
Congress or the Kardashians?
Congress ........................................................ 49%
Kardashians.................................................... 36%
Not sure .......................................................... 16%
Q8 What do you have a higher opinion of:
Congress or Nickelback?
Congress ........................................................ 32%
Nickelback ...................................................... 39%
Not sure .......................................................... 29%
Q9 What do you have a higher opinion of:
Congress or lobbyists?
Congress ........................................................ 48%
Lobbyists......................................................... 30%
Not sure .......................................................... 22%
Q10 What do you have a higher opinion of:
Congress or North Korea?
Congress ........................................................ 61%
North Korea .................................................... 26%
Not sure .......................................................... 13%
Q11 What do you have a higher opinion of:
Congress or ebola?
Congress ........................................................ 53%
Ebola .............................................................. 25%
Not sure .......................................................... 21%
Q12 What do you have a higher opinion of:
Congress or Lindsey Lohan?
Congress ........................................................ 45%
Lindsey Lohan ................................................ 41%
Not sure .......................................................... 14%
Q13 What do you have a higher opinion of:
Congress or colonoscopies?
Congress ........................................................ 31%
Colonoscopies ................................................ 58%
Not sure .......................................................... 10%
Q14 What do you have a higher opinion of:
Congress or Fidel Castro?
Congress ........................................................ 54%
Fidel Castro .................................................... 32%
Not sure .......................................................... 14%
Q15 What do you have a higher opinion of:
Congress or Washington, D.C., political
pundits?
Congress ........................................................ 34%
Washington, D.C., political pundits ................. 37%
Not sure .......................................................... 29%
Q16 What do you have a higher opinion of:
Congress or carnies?
Congress ........................................................ 31%
Carnies ........................................................... 39%
Not sure .......................................................... 30%
Q17 What do you have a higher opinion of:
Congress or traffic jams?
Congress ........................................................ 34%
Traffic jams ..................................................... 56%
Not sure .......................................................... 10%
Q18 What do you have a higher opinion of:
Congress or cockroaches?
Congress ........................................................ 43%
Cockroaches................................................... 45%
Not sure .......................................................... 12%
Q19 What do you have a higher opinion of:
Congress or playground bullies?
Congress ........................................................ 43%
Playground bullies........................................... 38%
Not sure .......................................................... 20%
Q20 What do you have a higher opinion of:
Congress or Donald Trump?
Congress ........................................................ 42%
Donald Trump ................................................. 44%
Not sure .......................................................... 14%
Q21 What do you have a higher opinion of:
Congress or meth labs?
Congress ........................................................ 60%
Meth labs ........................................................ 21%
Not sure .......................................................... 18%
Q22 What do you have a higher opinion of:
Congress or France?
Congress ........................................................ 37%
France ............................................................ 46%
Not sure .......................................................... 18%
Q23 What do you have a higher opinion of:
Congress or Genghis Khan?
Congress ........................................................ 37%
Genghis Khan................................................. 41%
Not sure .......................................................... 22%
Q24 What do you have a higher opinion of:
Congress or communism?
Congress ........................................................ 57%
Communism.................................................... 23%
Not sure .......................................................... 20%
Q25 What do you have a higher opinion of:
Congress or used car salesmen?
Congress ........................................................ 32%
Used car salesmen ......................................... 57%
Not sure .......................................................... 11%
Q26 What do you have a higher opinion of:
Congress or gonorrhea?
Congress ........................................................ 53%
Gonorrhea....................................................... 28%
Not sure .......................................................... 18%
Q27 What do you have a higher opinion of:
Congress or brussel sprouts?
Congress ........................................................ 23%
Brussel sprouts ............................................... 69%
Not sure .......................................................... 9%
Q28 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ...................................................... 13%
Somewhat liberal ............................................ 18%
Moderate......................................................... 25%
Somewhat conservative.................................. 19%
Very conservative ........................................... 25%
Q29 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ........................................................... 48%
Man................................................................. 52%
Q30 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If a Republican,
press 2. If you are an independent or identify
with another party, press 3.
Democrat ........................................................ 39%
Republican...................................................... 35%
Independent/Other.......................................... 26%
Q31 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2.
If African-American, press 3. If other, press 4.
Hispanic.......................................................... 14%
White .............................................................. 66%
African-American ............................................ 13%
Other............................................................... 6%
Q32 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1. If 30 to
45 years old, press 2. If 46 to 65, press 3. If
you are older than 65, press 4.
18 to 29........................................................... 19%
30 to 45........................................................... 26%
46 to 65........................................................... 36%
Older than 65.................................................. 20%
How did they beat the Kardashians?
Communism is still below Congress. Obama has some work to do there.
not very atractive women..i would guess
Aright Elvis that's enough. Lay off the Brussel Sprouts!
I'm shocked that congress is more popular than gonorrhea! At least you can have a little fun getting gonorrhea. They must be talking about the new strain that you can't get rid of with antibiotics.
hahahah truth i have to give truth
Q33. Did you get to the end of this stupid list? If yes, press 1. If no press 2.
Yes --------------------0.07%
No --------------------96.91%
Unsure -----------------3.02%
JK<:
If you are going to survey the stupid party, you have to use a stupid list.
Come on people. She's the perfect Republican. Short memory, attacks everything that's not her and doesn't have a CLUE about solutions to anything. She'll have a long and dubious career with the GOP. That having been said, the Democrats have ALL the solutions (they think) but need a greed injection the GOP enjoys. Make fun of ALL these losers until we get a party for AMERICANS instead of the left and right.
[standing ovation]
Dang Non-Par it'd hard to shoot holes in that one....(pun intended)
She's another failed woman trying to achieve a masculine office.
I can only assume this article is in response to the earlier one about J. Jackson Jr's troubles? Part of MSN's campaigning, I mean "news reporting."
Weapons of Mass Deflection
NBC is carrying a story on Jr., its there, meanwhile NBC and MSN two different companies but affiliated.