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Dispute over Wellstone Action divides key DFL figures
http://www.startribune.com/dispute-over-wellstone-action-threatens-to-divide-key-dfl-figures/474094863/Could this be more about financial shennanigans rather than the Wellstones, et al, not toeing the Blodgett line?
A nasty dispute erupted into public Wednesday over the leadership of Wellstone Action, the nonprofit created to honor the memory of Paul Wellstone, the late senator and a lion of the DFL.
The organization is removing the senator’s surviving sons David and Mark Wellstone from the board, causing an uproar among some of Wellstone’s most steadfast supporters.
The conflict threatens to divide some of the most important fundraisers and operatives in the DFL heading into an election year that many in the party view as the most consequential in years. The Associated Press first reported the board’s move to boot the Wellstone brothers.
Sam Kaplan, an influential DFL attorney and ambassador to Morocco under President Barack Obama, is representing the Wellstone sons and two other former board members. He told the Star Tribune that the dispute originated when the board refused to investigate basic financial questions raised by the board treasurer.
The organization is removing the senator’s surviving sons David and Mark Wellstone from the board, causing an uproar among some of Wellstone’s most steadfast supporters.
The conflict threatens to divide some of the most important fundraisers and operatives in the DFL heading into an election year that many in the party view as the most consequential in years. The Associated Press first reported the board’s move to boot the Wellstone brothers.
Sam Kaplan, an influential DFL attorney and ambassador to Morocco under President Barack Obama, is representing the Wellstone sons and two other former board members. He told the Star Tribune that the dispute originated when the board refused to investigate basic financial questions raised by the board treasurer.
snip
Kahn, the longtime treasurer, said he noticed an increase in spending of $200,000 over budget last summer, as well as a sharp decline in cash balance.
“This was unprecedented in the history of the organization,” Kahn said. “I raised these questions, and properly so, as my legal obligations as treasurer of the organization are to ask questions about financial matters.”
Kahn sought a financial audit, which the board resisted, he said. Even after completing the audit, the board refused to share it with Kahn, the Wellstone sons and Kaplan.
Instead, Kahn said he and DeHarpporte, who shared the same concerns about the financial questions, were removed from the board.
“This was unprecedented in the history of the organization,” Kahn said. “I raised these questions, and properly so, as my legal obligations as treasurer of the organization are to ask questions about financial matters.”
Kahn sought a financial audit, which the board resisted, he said. Even after completing the audit, the board refused to share it with Kahn, the Wellstone sons and Kaplan.
Instead, Kahn said he and DeHarpporte, who shared the same concerns about the financial questions, were removed from the board.
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