On Friday evening, Max Baucus (D-Montana), the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, admitted that he recommended that the White House nominate his girlfriend as a U.S. attorney in Montana. Earlier this year, Baucus had recommeded Melodee Hanes and two other names for the U.S. attorney post. At the same time, he was carrying on a romantic relationship wit Hans, who had been his state director.

According to a source familiar with their relationship, Baucus and Hanes began their relationship in the summer of 2008. This was just months after they both seperated from their respective spouses.

Baucus' office insists that Hanes was recommended because of her qualifications, not because of her relationship with the senator or their respective divorces from their spouses.

Baucus' spokesman, Ty Matsdorf, said in a statement:

“While her 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."

This disclosure comes at a precarious time for the Montana senator, who is currently leading Senate negotiations over the infamous health care bill. We will see in the coming days and weeks if the disclosure will become an unwanted distraction. Chances are, it will.

Despite his office's denial that anything improper occurred, the disclosure will most certainly pique the interest of the Ethics Commitee and spark calls for inquiries. To stave off criticism, Baucus' office released Hanes' lengthy resume on Friday.

Hanes began working as a regional finance director on his 2002 Senate campaign, and then joined Baucus' staff in 2003 as field director. In 2005, she was promoted to state director, earning $105,000. Between October 2007 and October 2008, she earned more than $126,000. After leaving Baucus' office last spring, she became acting deputy administrator for policy in the Justice Department's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency and Prevention.

Thomas Bennett, Hanes' ex-husband, contends that Melodee wasn't recommended for the job because of her qualifications. He alleges:

“She was recommended for the [U.S. attorney] position because of a very close and personal relationship with Max Baucus and she withdrew because of a very close and personal relationship with Max Baucus."

Baucus' spokesman concluded, stating:

“After withdrawing from consideration for U.S. Attorney, Ms. Hanes independently applied for her current position at the Department of Justice. Having extensive experience and qualifications in the field, Ms. Hanes was awarded the position based solely on her merit. Since then she has excelled in her role.”