As Senate Democrats struggle this weekend to find 60 votes to pass health care reform, a scandal is brewing that promises to cause a big headache for one of the main players.
The office of Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., confirmed late Friday that Baucus had nominated his girlfriend for a top position in the Justice Department.
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Baucus, one of the main architects of the health care reform bill under debate on the Senate floor, recommended Melodee Hanes, his former staff director, to serve as Montana U.S. Attorney.
Hanes withdrew her name, however, because she moved in with Baucus, according to the Web site Mainjustice, which first reported the story.
Baucus spokesperson Ty Matsdorf said the senator “is currently in a mature and happy relationship with Melodee Hanes. They are both divorced, and in no way was their relationship the cause of their respective divorces.”
Obama ultimately nominated Helena lawyer Michael Cotter for the U.S. attorney job.
Hanes is now acting Deputy Administrator for Policy in the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, which is part of the Justice Department.
Where did Mainjustice get the scoop? From a jilted ex-spouse, of course.
Hanes’ former husband, Thomas Bennet, told Mainjustice that Hanes was recommended for the job of top prosecutor in Montana “because of a very close and personal relationship with Max Baucus and she withdrew because of a very close and personal relationship with Max Baucus.”
The two divorced in December 2008.
