Ex-Bachmann aide alleges ethics violation in Iowa

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former aide to Minnesota Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann has filed an ethics complaint with the Iowa Senate, alleging that during her presidential campaign she made improper payments to a state senator.

Peter Waldron says in the written complaint filed Jan. 28 that Bachmann for President tried to conceal paying Republican state Sen. Kent Sorenson $7,500 a month by running the money through a political action committee with ties to the congresswoman.

If true, the payments would violate a Senate ethics ban on paid employment with political campaigns.

In a statement released Monday, Sorenson called the claims "baseless" and "without evidence."

Waldron has made a similar complaint to the Federal Election Commission. An attorney for Bachmann has denied the claims.

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