US senator 'nominated girlfriend'

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Influential US Senator Max Baucus nominated his girlfriend for a key post earlier this year, his office has said.

It said Mr Baucus chose Melodee Hanes, his former aide, to serve as attorney in his home state of Montana because of her "extensive legal experience".

Ms Hanes later withdrew after both she and Mr Baucus had decided that they wanted to live together in Washington.

The Democratic senator is a key figure in the drive by President Barack Obama to reform America's healthcare system.

Mr Baucus, a 67-year-old divorcee, currently chairs the powerful Senate Finance Committee.

He disclosed the circumstances surrounding the nomination process after enquiries from Mainjustice.com - a new website that focuses on the justice department, the Associated Press news agency reported.

'Happy relationship'

In a statement, Mr Baucus's spokesman Ty Matsdorf said that in March the senator nominated Ms Hanes for the US attorney post because of her "extensive background as a prosecutor and extensive legal experience".

The spokesman said the senator submitted six names to an independent third-party reviewer, who later recommended three candidates, including Ms Hanes.

The spokesman said that Mr Baucus then submitted those three names to the White House for consideration "with no ranking or preference".

The statement added: "While her (Ms Hanes) personal relationship with Senator Baucus should in no way be either a qualifier or a disqualifier for the position, during the nomination process and after much reflection, both Senator Baucus and Ms Hanes agreed that she should withdraw her name from consideration because they wanted to live together in Washington, DC."

Ms Hanes, who is divorced, worked for Mr Baucus as his office director from 2003 until earlier this year.

The senator's spokesman said that when Mr Baucus and Ms Hanes "realised that their relationship was developing beyond a purely professional nature, Melodee began the process of resigning her Senate employment".

"Senator Baucus is currently in a mature and happy relationship with Melodee Hanes. They are both divorced, and in no way was their relationship the cause of their respective divorces," the spokesman said.

President Obama eventually nominated Michael Cotter for the US attorney post in Montana and he is currently awaiting confirmation.