Baucus' Nominee

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By Sarah Gravlee

Story Published: Dec 6, 2009 at 9:14 PM MST

Story Updated: Dec 7, 2009 at 6:29 AM MST

BILLINGS - A spokesman for Senator Max Baucus said Baucus nominated his girlfriend for U.S. Attorney.

The spokesman said Sen. Baucus submitted six names to a reviewer, who then narrowed those names down to Baucus' girlfriend Melodee Hanes and two other people. Baucus then submitted those three names to the White House with no ranking.

Hanes later withdrew her name because she and Baucus wanted to live together in Washington.

Baucus released this statement about the nomination:
Statement from U.S. Senator Max Baucus: Mel and I have a wonderful relationship. We are living together and enjoying spending time with each other and our families. I'm as happy as I've ever been. Mel and I were both separated from our former spouses when we got together. It wasn't an "affair." As we grew closer and things progressed, we knew it was time to begin the process of Mel transitioning out of my Senate office.

As a highly qualified prosecutor who tried more than 100 jury trials and as a former law professor, Mel would have been an excellent U.S. Attorney for Montana. She is widely regarded as an expert in child abuse prosecution. I for one did not want her relationship with me to disqualify her from applying for the position. I appointed an independent, third-party reviewer and established an open and fair process that resulted in 3 names being sent, unranked, to the White House for consideration. But, in the end, we decided it would be best for Mel to withdraw her name from consideration.

That also allowed us to live together in Washington, where Mel applied independently with the Department of Justice, and, not surprisingly to anyone who's looked at her resume, got the DOJ job on her merit.

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remove Baucus said on Friday, Dec 11 at 7:27 AM

Is this the kind of man we awant representing us? I think it sends the wrong message entirely. Of course we know she is the reason for the divorce and then to give her pay raises, nominate her then get her a DOJ job. It stinks Max and I am to tired of things like this going on all the time in politics.

MTmwb said on Sunday, Dec 6 at 8:38 PM

Yea right!!! I think her ex hit it on the nose. Lets remove max from office.

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