Baucus picked girlfriend for key post

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus was romantically involved with a former staffer when he recommended her earlier this year to become the next U.S. attorney for Montana, a spokesman said.

The Montana Democrat and his former state office director, Melodee Hanes, began their relationship in the summer of 2008 after Baucus separated from his wife, spokesman Ty Matsdorf told the Associated Press late Friday.

Mr. Baucus nominated Ms. Hanes for the U.S. attorney post in March. But she later withdrew, saying she had been presented with other opportunities she couldn’t pass up.

The Senate leader, helping to manage Democratic health care legislation during a rare session Saturday, had submitted six names to a third-party reviewer, who whittled those to Ms. Hanes and two others. Mr. Matsdorf said the senator sent the three names to the White House with no ranking to select a nominee.

Mr. Matsdorf said Mr. Baucus’ relationship with his girlfriend had nothing to do with his decision.

“Sen. Baucus recommended each of the three candidates based solely on qualifications and merit, knowing whichever one the White House selected would serve Montana well,” Mr. Matsdorf said.

The spokesman said Mr. Baucus and Ms. Hanes decided during the nomination process that she should withdraw her name because the couple wanted to live together in Washington, which they later did.

The senator disclosed the circumstances surrounding the nomination after inquiries from Mainjustice.com, a news Web site focusing on the Justice Department that first reported Mr. Baucus’ relationship with his nominee.

Mr. Baucus and his ex-wife Wanda announced last April that they planned to divorce after 25 years of marriage, his second. In a joint statement, they said they had “parted ways amicably and with mutual respect.”

Ms. Hanes started working for Mr. Baucus in 2002 and was his state director before leaving his office earlier this year for a Justice Department position.

“Mel is supremely qualified and she got to her current position based solely on her merit,” Mr. Matsdorf said.

President Obama eventually nominated Helena, Mont., attorney Michael Cotter for the U.S. attorney post, which supervises prosecutors of all federal crimes committed in Montana and on the state’s seven Indian reservations. Mr. Cotter is awaiting confirmation.

Word of Ms. Hanes’ nomination followed other recent disclosures of romantic liaisons involving political leaders, including South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford; Sen. John Ensign, Nevada Republican; and two-time Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards of North Carolina.

Mr. Sanford faces a possible impeachment following his affair with a woman in Argentina. Mr. Ensign, who acknowledged in June to having an affair with a former member of his campaign staff, has made it clear he intends to serve out his second term. Mr. Edwards’ political career was damaged when he acknowledged last year he had an affair with a videographer in 2006. The admission came just months after Mr. Edwards dropped his second presidential bid.

Mr. Baucus was elected to the Montana House in 1973 and to the U.S. House in 1974 and 1976. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1978 at age 36, and his current term runs until 2014.

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