Hatch testifies in trial of former state GOP chairman

Posted on Wed, Nov. 09, 2005

Hatch testifies in trial of former state GOP chairman
Associated Press

ROCHESTER, Minn. - Attorney General Mike Hatch - a Democrat who's running for governor next year - testified in the trial of Ron Eibensteiner, former head of Minnesota's Republican Party.

Hatch was the first witness called Tuesday by prosecutors seeking to prove Eibensteiner helped a Florida insurance company make illegal campaign contributions in the 2002 governor's race. Eibensteiner faces four gross misdemeanor charges of violating state campaign finance laws.

Hatch told an attentive jury here that a lobbyist for American Bankers Insurance Co., Ron Jerich, gave him a thank-you note signed by Eibensteiner.

Eibensteiner's attorney, Bill Mauzy, said in an opening statement that signing the note thanking the company for its contribution was a "mistake." The note shouldn't have mentioned American Bankers' contribution to a national Republican campaign committee along with a reference to the state GOP's fundraising efforts, Mauzy said.
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Why am I not surprised...