January 3, 2009
Posted: 12:55 PM ET
From CNN All Platform Journalist Chris Welch
Republicans have said they will not allow Franken to be seated..
ST. PAUL, Minnesota (CNN) — One of the last remaining steps in Minnesota's U.S. Senate race recount was temporarily halted Saturday morning when attorneys with Republican Norm Coleman's campaign attempted to stop the counting of about 950 improperly rejected absentee ballots. Currently, Coleman trails Democrat Al Franken by about 50 votes. The state's Supreme Court had previously ordered that rejected absentee ballots be counted if local officials and each campaign could agree that the selected ballots were rejected mistakenly. Local officials identified 1,350 such ballots. The Franken campaign wanted to count those and leave it at that. The Coleman campaign took issue with hundreds of those and also wanted to add about 650 more. Since the Franken campaign would not agree to these ballots, the Coleman campaign sought the intervention of the state's high court. The court is currently considering their request but has not set a hearing at this point, and it is still unclear if they will. At the start of Saturday's meeting, Coleman attorney Tony Trimble asked Deputy Secretary of State Jim Gelbmann to cease any counting today. After about an hour recess to consult the state attorney general's office, Gelbmann returned saying the decision was to "not slow down this process today, get the counting underway." "We are relying on the oral advice of the attorney general," he added. Trimble wanted to respond. "We understand the decision you've made, we–," Trimble said before sharply cut off by Gelbmann.
"Excuse me," Gelbmann said. "I think the candidates have had an opportunity to address this process." The two men quickly became visibly agitated, with Trimble adding, "This is a public meeting, and I'm going to have my say. And I will have my say." "Two minutes," Gelbmann said. "It may be two and half, sir, but I wll have my way," Trimble said sharply. Gelbmann repeated, "Two minutes." Trimble then laid out his objection but said they would reluctantly abide by today's process. "But we do expect that the Supreme Court does permit the review of additional envelopes," he said. "And for the record our willingness to participate in this process…maintains our objection to an inconsistency which is occurring as we speak." The Coleman campaign has maintained there has been no uniform standard in reviewing and counting rejected absentee ballots. Secretary of State Mark Ritchie had hoped that the state canvassing board would complete the counting and allocation of these votes by Tuesday at the latest so a result could be confirmed. A result would not mean a winner, however, since Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty would also have to sign off on the election certificate. Both campaigns have seven days after the board certifies a result to file a post-election contest. Pawlenty would likely not sign anything until all legal battles are exhausted. The unfinished business in Minnesota will likely mean Minnesota will be without a second senator when the new session is sworn in this Tuesday. Sen. John Cornyn, chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, has said GOP members would filibuster any attempt by Democratic leaders to seat Franken early, even if he remains in the lead, until the certificate is signed. Filed under: Minnesota
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