Lawyer for FBI whistleblower to run for seat held by Bachmann
(AP) A lawyer for FBI whistleblower Jane Turner said Friday that he will run for Congress in Minnesota's 6th Congressional District, currently held by freshman GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann.
The attorney, Bob Hill of Stillwater, told The Associated Press that he will run as a Democrat but described his politics as independent. Hill said he will form a congressional committee on April 1.
"Unfortunately, the rules of the game these days require you to get out early and raise the money," Hill said during a trip to Washington, where he met with staffers of Minnesota congressional Democrats and officials at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "If you don't get out early, you won't be considered viable."
Hill, 48, helped represent Turner in the former Minneapolis FBI agent's lawsuit that yielded a $565,000 judgment against the agency. A court found that the FBI had retaliated against Turner after she filed a sexual-discrimination complaint.
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Hill has no experience as an elected official, but said he's been involved in various campaigns.
He criticized Bachmann for recently stating that Iran has a plan to partition Iraq and turn half of the country into a "terrorist haven." Bachmann has since said she meant that Iran and other enemies of the U.S. want a divided Iraq, but that she knows of no actual plan.
"I don't think that's responsible for a member of Congress to incite people's emotions," he said.
Bachmann's office did not immediately return phone and e-mail messages.