Baucus Defends Recommending Girlfriend for Federal Post

Sen Max Baucus yesterday defended his decision to recommend his girlfriend, lawyer Melodee Hanes, for a U.S. Attorney post in his home state of Montana, saying she was particularly qualified for the job after handling more than 100 jury trials and that he did not want their relationship to disqualify her, The Hill reports.

Baucus also dismissed the use of "affair" to describe their relationship since both he and Hanes had long been separated from their partners before they started dating.

Baucus had nominated Hanes in March but he and Hanes decided later to withdraw the nomination because they hoped to live together.

On Friday, when the news of Baucus' recommendation broke, some Republicans had called for an ethics committee investigation into Baucus' relationship with Hanes, who had worked for Baucus' campaign and later his Senate staff.