Al Franken and Swindlers: Perfect Together

These Democrats are just amazing. Everywhere you look they're up to their ears in corrupt cronies. Just a day after a major Democrat fundraiser was busted for fraud, Minnesota's neophyte senator, the failed comedian, was forced to cancel a fundraiser being held by a convicted swindler.

Sen. Al Franken said Wednesday that he canceled a fundraiser after learning the host of the event served a year in prison for swindling some northern Minnesotans.

The host was Mark Erjavec, who was convicted in 1997 of theft by swindle. He served a 13-month jail sentence in St. Louis County.

The self-described real estate entrepreneur has also faced tax liens and a copyright infringement lawsuit.

Franken's campaign finance director, Dinah Dale, said the Thursday fundraiser was called off "as soon as we learned about Mr. Erjavec's past."

So they're basically admitting they do not vet these people before jumping into bed with them. Why on earth would a politician schedule a fundraiser with someone whose background they have no knowledge of? Are they simply incompetent or were they just looking the other way while trying to line their pockets?

Well, that answer is easy: They don't care where the money comes from so long as it keeps flowing in.

Franken had been expected to attend the evening event at a St. Paul home on Summit Avenue two doors down from the historic James J. Hill House.

Suggested contributions included $2,400 for a co-host, $1,000 for a sponsor, $500 for a benefactor, $250 for a patron and $100 for a friend.

Erjavec's former lawyer, Bruce Williams, of Virginia, Minn., said his client, 21 at the time, was immature and regretted his actions. One potential victim was a Roman Catholic priest from Chisholm who said he invested $10,000 of his own and his parish's money into a certificate of deposit that turned out to be forged.

"He did his time, and life goes on," Williams said.

In May, the IRS filed a federal tax lien against Erjavec for $14,258. A trademark infringement suit against him by General Electric ended with a permanent injunction. He also has been sued for breach of contract, consumer fraud and violating federal truth in lending laws.

The convict naturally has a good excuse for his rampant criminal behavior: the economy.

"As the economy has had its challenges, I continue to work through my own personal challenges," the statement said. "It's unfortunate that my personal support of the senator has been used in a business dispute."

The folks in Minnesota must be thrilled to be stuck with Franken for another five years.