NOT-SO-ANCIENT HISTORY

Senate Hopefuls Have Bad Financial Past

Even criminal records.

At least 13 people who are running for the U.S. Senate have filed for bankruptcies, been hit with liens for overdue taxes, or convicted of crimes. The investigation into the candidates’ credit history came via InvestigativeCheck, a nonpartisan research firm, and a new online newspaper, the Washington Guardian. The 13 candidates come from all parties, including three Democrats, two Independents and eight Republicans—and many are self-proclaimed Tea Party activists advocating fiscal restraint. One such hopeful, Tea Party candidate Brenda Lenard in Tennessee, has raised $58,000 so far in her challenge to incumbent Senator Bob Corker—but a background check reveals that she was convicted in 1993 of deposit amount fraud, a felony, and a federal judge in Atlanta accused her of abusing bankruptcy 12 years later.