Sen. Norm Coleman’s campaign is illegally collaborating with two independent organizations that have been running advertisements on his behalf, according to a complaint filed by the state Democratic Party today with the Federal Election Commission.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business SAFE Trust (NFIB) have both been running ads praising Coleman and attacking Democratic challenger Al Franken. Last month, for instance, the Chamber spent $42,500 to air an ad criticizing the DFLer’s supposed desire to raise taxes.

In its complaint the DFL notes that both the Coleman campaign and the two business groups have paid money to FLS Connect for services. FLS Connect is one of the country’s most influential GOP fundraising and consulting firms. Jeff Larson, a longtime confidant of Coleman who works in St. Paul, is one of the company’s owners. Since 2001, Coleman’s campaign and his Northstar Leadership PAC have paid FLS Connect more than $1.5 million for consulting services and rent. In addition, the National Journal reported in June that Coleman rents a basement apartment owned by Larson in Washington for $600 a month. The other tenant at the Capitol Hill dwelling? FLS Connect.

“When Norm Coleman comes home at night he walks right into the office of the political consultants of outside organizations that are running ads on his behalf,” DFL chair Brian Melendez said at a press conference this afternoon. “Unless he’s climbing into his bedroom through the window every night he has to walk through FLS Connect’s office to get to his bedroom. This arrangement does not pass the smell test.”

Melendez conceded, however, that the DFL possesses no proof that the Coleman campaign has violated election laws. “I don’t have any direct evidence of coordination,” he said. “There is not a smoking gun. But the fact that he’s refusing to answer some very simple questions that could clear him immediately tells me that there’s probably something going on here.”

The FEC complaint is seeking an investigation into whether the Coleman campaign wrongly coordinated activities with the Chamber and NFIB. In addition, it raises the question of whether the two business groups failed to adequately report donations to the Coleman campaign or exceeded limitations on in-kind contributions.

Coleman campaign spokesman Tom Erickson did not immediately respond to a phone call and email seeking comment on the complaint.