Jim Mone, Associated Press
Norm Coleman attorney Joe Friedberg rests his eyes as Pamela Howell, background, is cross examined by Al Franken's attorneys during the Senate vote recount trial Monday.

Coleman rests case; Franken up tomorrow

Franken's case is expected to take less time than Coleman's.

By KEVIN DUCHSCHERE, Star Tribune

Last update: March 2, 2009 - 4:27 PM

Norm Coleman's lawyers rested their case in the U.S. Senate recount trial this afternoon, clearing the way for Al Franken's attorneys to begin their case tomorrow morning.

Coleman's lawyers rested after finishing their questioning of state elections director Gary Poser and Republican election judge Pamela Howell, who had appeared briefly twice last week before being dismissed because of undisclosed documents she had provided the Coleman team.

Howell spoke about hearing a judge at her south Minneapolis precinct announce that some duplicate absentee ballots had been mistakenly fed into a vote tabulator without being labeled. Unmarked duplicate absentee ballots are impossible to tell apart from regularly-cast ballots, raising the possibility that some votes may have been counted twice -- a key issue for Coleman, especially in a heavily DFL district.

Franken holds a 225-vote lead certified during the recount, and has gained some votes during the trial that the three-judge panel ruled should be counted.

Franken attorney's have been reluctant to speculate on how long they will need to present their case, but it's not expected to be as long as the five-week Coleman case. At a party fundraiser Saturday, Franken said that he expected the trial to last for another two to three weeks.

Kevin Duchschere • 651-292-0164


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