Baucus Nominated Girlfriend to AG

Senator Max Baucus was in a romantic relationship with a woman he nominated for U.S. attorney, his spokesman announced late Friday. They began the relationship in the summer of 2008 and she later withdrew her name from consideration for the post. Baucus was separated from his wife when he began his affair with his state director Melodee Hanes, reports Politico. The senator is leading negotiations over the health-care bill as the chair of the powerful Finance Committee. Baucus' office maintains that Hanes was nominated because of her qualifications; RNC Chair Michael Steele is calling for an ethics investigation.