Michele Bachmann reportedly in talks to settle in Iowa

Bachmann's presidential campaign is accused of stealing an email list from an Iowa staffer

Published May 8, 2013 1:25PM (EDT)

Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., is reportedly in talks to settle a lawsuit over allegations that members of her 2012 presidential campaign staff stole an email list from a staffer in Iowa.

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that Bachmann went to Des Moines earlier this week to meet with lawyers for Barb Heki, the woman behind the lawsuit, who alleges that senior Bachmann staffers stole the contact list for a network of Iowa home-schoolers.

From the Star-Tribune:

The campaign has previously called the use of the list “inadvertent,” a view that Heki and campaign whistleblower Peter Waldron, a Florida pastor, have disputed publicly. Campaign officials eventually negotiated a $2,000 payment to rent the list from the Network of Iowa Christian Home Educators (NICHE).

Heki said she was blamed for misappropriating the database and was removed from the nonprofit’s board. One of the counts in her suit alleges libel and slander.

Former State Sen. Kent Sorenson, who chaired Bachmann’s campaign in Iowa, has been accused of stealing the list, and is also being investigated for possibly accepting improper payments for his work on the campaign.


By Jillian Rayfield

Jillian Rayfield is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on politics. Follow her on Twitter at @jillrayfield or email her at jrayfield@salon.com.

MORE FROM Jillian Rayfield


Related Topics ------------------------------------------

2012 Elections House Republicans Iowa Michele Bachmann Minnesota