ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Add two Republicans to the chorus questioning U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann's call for an investigation of a State Department employee.

U.S. Rep. John Kline and former Sen. Norm Coleman say Bachmann stepped over the line in asking several federal departments to look into whether the Muslim Brotherhood had infiltrated the U.S. government and was affecting policy.

Bachmann has been criticized since then for linking Huma Abedin (HOO'-muh AB'-uh-deen), a top aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, to the Brotherhood. Sen. John McCain, among others, forcefully defended Abedin.

Kline and Coleman say it was wrong to single out Abedin.

Their remarks came Friday in a conference call with reporters to talk about the economy, reports say.

A Bachmann spokesman didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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