Max Baucus and Melodee Hanes

DEMOCRAT Max Baucus appears to have mixed business with pleasure.

WASHINGTON -- 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, Ty Matsdorf told The Associated Press late Friday.

The separation from his wife came before Baucus began dating Hanes.

Was Baucus divorced at the time the relationship began?

No. Since he wasn't divorced, I think it's more appropriate to refer to Hanes as his mistress rather than his girlfriend.

Here's some information from Roll Call's John Stanton on Baucus' marital history:

"According to a source familiar with their relationship, [Melodee] Hanes and Baucus began their relationship in the summer of 2008 - nearly a year before Baucus and his wife, Wanda, divorced in April 2009. The Senator had informally separated from his wife in March 2008 and they were living apart when he began dating Hanes, according to Baucus' office."

"Hanes, who is divorced and now lives with Baucus in the Eastern Market neighborhood of Washington, D.C., ultimately withdrew her name from consideration for the U.S. attorney position in order to move to Washington, and she now works in the Justice Department's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention as a counselor to the administrator."

Given that timeline, I think mistress is a better term.

Back to the AP article:

Baucus, a Senate leader helping to shepherd President Barack Obama's efforts to expand health care, nominated 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.

Baucus had submitted six names to a third-party reviewer, who whittled those to Hanes and two others. Matsdorf said the senator sent the three names to the White House with no ranking to select a nominee.

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

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

Baucus had to know he was playing with fire by doing this.

Apparently, he thought he would be immune from scrutiny about submitting the name of his mistress as a nominee.

Wrong.
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UPDATE: Baucus denies 'affair' with ex-aide

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus is defending recommending his girlfriend for appointment as Montana's U.S. attorney.

Baucus said the he and former state office director Melodee Hanes began dating when they were both separated from their spouses. The Montana Democrat said they did not have an affair.

I guess it depends on one's definition of "affair." What are the criteria? Baucus wasn't divorced when he took up with his "girlfriend." He had an "informal separation."

In any event, DEMOCRAT Baucus recommending Hanes for the appointment is an ethically questionable move.