Al Mayo: Michele Bachmann–What’s Really Going On Here?

Surprising most observers, including me, Michele Bachmann says she’s done with political office. At least for now. The Minnesota Congresswoman posted a video message saying she will not seek a fifth term in Congress. Surprising on several levels. First off, Bachmann has already been running campaign ads and videos in preperation for a run. She has never shown any reluctance to speak–on anything–so her explanation leaves a lot to be desired.

Bachmann said in the video, that the decision to drop out of politics, “was not in any way influenced by any concerns about my being re-elected to Congress… And rest assured, this decision was not impacted in any way by the recent inquiries into the activities of my former presidential campaign or my former presidential staff.”

Howzat again Michele? You’re trying to tell us that a state, federal, and local investigation into misuse of campaign funds had NO impact on your decision? On one hand that could be pure fiction, but on the other hand maybe not. It could be fear of looking foolish. I realize that many hearing Bachmann’s sometimes outlandish comments over the years may think that ship has sailed, but looking foolish in an election is something all together different.

Don’t forget Bachmann cam perilously close to losing the last time out. She won reelection by less than 4300 votes. That was in a state where Mitt Romney won in the same district by FIFTEEN points! Not to mention her opponent in that race–Jim Graves–has already announced he’s running again. She was so intent on retaining the seat that TV ads began this week SEVENTEEN MONTHS before the actual election. You should also know that Bachmann’s district is drawn to be the most Republican in the state. Yet she has never led the ticket in any election she’s been part of. She has run behind every Presidential candidate and Senate contender that ever shared a ticket with her.

Despite her pooh-poohing of the allegations, Bachmann also faces growing legal troubles. The Office of Congressional Ethics has been conducting its own review of Bachmann and her staff since early this year. That inquiry, first disclosed in March, is either near its conclusion or has already resulted in a recommendation for a formal investigation by the House Ethics Committee, given that there is a strict time limit of about 100 days for how long these preliminary investigations can go on. The interesting thing is that Bachmann’s announcement come as we are expecting some word on the probe very soon.

As if that wasn’t bad enough for Bachmann, it’s also come to light that the FBI is also conducting an inquiry, joining the Federal Election Commission and the Iowa Senate Ethics Committee on the growing list of investigative bodies examining her campaign activity.

Among the allegations is that her campaign improperly used money from an affiliated political action committee, MichelePAC, to pay a fund-raising consultant who worked for her during the 2012 Iowa caucuses. Her campaign has also been accused of making secret and improper payments to Kent Sorenson, an Iowa state senator and popular Republican conservative leader in the state, in advance of the caucuses. And she has been accused of improperly using her presidential campaign staff to help promote her book, “Core of Conviction.”

If even one of these allegations is found to be true, it would crush Bachmann’s credentials as a Tea Party icon, and conservative champion of small government. Keep an eye on the outcome of these probes, and I think we’ll soon understand why she’s quitting.