DFL head: Pawlenty would have no choice if court orders stay

Though he doesn’t expect it, the head of the Minnesota Democratic Party acknowledged that if a federal court were to issue an order preventing an election certificate for Democrat Al Franken, Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) would have no choice to abide.

“If the federal court grants the stay, then the governor would have no choice but to refrain from signing the election certificate,” Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party Chairman Brian Melendez said in a Thursday press conference.

He added: “I don’t think that a federal court would do that, but I’m not a federal judge, so I don’t get to say.”

Sen. Norm Coleman (R), who is appealing Franken’s lead in the state’s ongoing Senate race, has only brought suit before the state Supreme Court. At the same time, lawyers for Coleman have not ruled out pursuing a federal suit — at least to prevent seating Franken while Coleman pursues appeals.

Watch a truncated version of Melendez’s statement below, as circulated by Coleman supporters.