Fellow Minnesota Republican Disputes Bachmann Remarks

ST. PAUL  (AP) - Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen says the comments made by fellow Minnesota GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann about Islamic fundamentalists infiltrating high levels of U.S. government are "not appropriate" and "not accurate."

Paulsen weighed in on the Bachmann flap on Monday after an unrelated state legislative hearing in St. Paul.

Bachmann has faced bipartisan criticism for linking Huma Abedin, a top aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Bachmann also accuses Democratic Rep. Keith Ellison, a Muslim, of having ties to the group, a charge Ellison denies. Ellison has called on Bachmann to apologize.

Pauslen says it's up to Bachmann to decide how to respond and he doesn't plan to speak with her about the issue. He says he doesn't see the influence she alleges is there.

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