Heitkamp Calls on Berg to Denounce Karl Rove and Crossroads GPS’ False and Already Debunked Ad That Was Released Today
MANDAN, N.D. – Former North Dakota Attorney General and U.S. Senate candidate Heidi Heitkamp called on Rep. Rick Berg to denounce an already debunked ad from Crossroads GPS that smears Heitkamp’s record of taking on Big Tobacco to get millions of dollars to North Dakota for better schools and property tax relief.
“Rick Berg’s friends are airing false claims that have already been debunked, but they don’t care because they need to distract voters from Berg’s record of voting to cut taxes for millionaires like himself,” said Heidi Heitkamp. “Rep. Berg should stop the smear campaign and tell Crossroads to take this ad down.”
To date, Rove and his millionaire donors have already committed to spending $1.2 million on ads in North Dakota. Heitkamp’s press conference today calling on Berg to denounce the ad came one week after Crossroads was forced to yank an ad off the air over outrageous lies, in particular for falsely saying that she had spent taxpayer money to buy a free airplane that was used to fight the war on drugs.
According the Fargo Forum, more than a year ago, Heitkamp set the record straight that the attorney used by the state of North Dakota — who has since been confirmed as a judge in a bipartisan vote by the U.S. Senate — wasn’t paid.
On Wednesday, Heitkamp provided the pages of the master settlement agreement that refer to “Designation of Outside Counsel.” While other states have outside lawyers named to receive compensation for representation, next to North Dakota is the word “none.” “Jack McConnell didn’t receive a dime for any legal work that he ever did for the state of North Dakota,” Heitkamp said. “He served without compensation.” No one outside of the North Dakota Attorney General’s Office was compensated for the legal work, she said. [Fargo Forum, 5/4/2011]
Heitkamp’s Letter To McConnell Explicitly Stated “You Are To Serve In This Capacity Without Compensation From This Office To The State Of North Dakota.” In Heitkamp’s appointment letter to Jack McConnell as Special Assistant Attorney General, Heitkamp wrote: “You are to serve in this capacity without compensation from this office or the State of North Dakota.” [Special Assistant Attorney General Appointment, 1/26/00]
Read the full fact check (PDF).
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