Gov. Brian Schweitzer of Montana said in a speech in July that he had used his position to influence the outcome of the 2006 Senate race in favor of a fellow Democrat, Jon Tester. Mr. Tester’s narrow victory helped to swing majority control of the United States Senate to the Democrats.
Mr. Schweitzer’s spokeswoman said Thursday that the governor’s remarks were meant only in jest. “He was joking, horsing around,” the spokeswoman, Sarah Elliott, said. The speech is at archive.org.
But Republicans in Montana were not amused, including Secretary of State Brad Johnson, who asked the state attorney general to investigate the matter.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/12/u.... States, Territories and Possessions/Montana
Mr. Schweitzer’s spokeswoman said Thursday that the governor’s remarks were meant only in jest. “He was joking, horsing around,” the spokeswoman, Sarah Elliott, said. The speech is at archive.org.
But Republicans in Montana were not amused, including Secretary of State Brad Johnson, who asked the state attorney general to investigate the matter.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/12/u.... States, Territories and Possessions/Montana