The office of Senator Max Baucus (D-Montana) has confirmed that he was having an affair with his state officer director, Melodee Hanes, when he nominated her for U.S. Attorney.

Baucus is no longer married and now openly lives with Hanes, but a source for Roll Call confirms he was carrying on the affair quite a while before he and his wife separated. Hanes was only nominated for U.S. Attorney by Baucus after the affair had begun.

She ultimately withdrew her name for nomination, but currently works in the Justice Department’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. She serves as a counselor to the administrator.

A spokesman for Baucus insists that the series of events is merely coincidental. He just happened to nominate for U.S. Attorney the woman he was having an affair with simultaneously. Pure coincidence, we’re lead to believe.

In no way did the fact he was boinking her at the time influence his decision to nominate her for a powerful position. Uh huh. And I think I just saw a couple of flying pigs pulling Santa’s sleigh out my window. In fact, this post was spell-checked by the Tooth Fairy.

(Via Hot Air Headlines.)