Posted on 10/23/2007 5:49:09 AM PDT by Sopater
Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) has used $23,000 in campaign funds to pay the top Washington ethics lawyer, Stan Brand, who is fighting his case before the Senate ethics committee, according to Craig’s latest filing with the Federal Election Commission.
No additional legal expenses appear in the report, but they eventually will. Craig, according to his office, has decided to use his campaign committee for attorney fees related to his criminal defense in Minnesota as well.
“A better read (of the latest report) is that Stan Brand bills more quickly,” Craig’s spokesman, Dan Whiting, wrote in an email. The report covers spending from July 1 to Sept. 30 and showed Craig with $475,000 left in the bank.
Tapping campaign funds for what some might argue is a personal legal expense could raise eyebrows at the FEC, which prohibits personal use of campaign funds, but determines on a case-by-case basis whether such funds are being used properly.
Craig must argue that his legal fight in Minnesota – he is seeking the withdrawal of his guilty plea on disorderly conduct charges stemming from a men’s restroom sex sting – is related his office.
Jan Baran, an election law expert and former general counsel of the Republican National Committee, said the argument would be unusual, but it can be made.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Real conservatives would feel shame.
Please go away Larry Craig
Depends on how your definition of the word "office"
GO AWAY, LARRY.
When is he gonna throw his hat, or shoes, in the presidential ring?
Just my opinion, but it sure does look like the Libs are pulling his strings now. Wonder what other skeletons this loser has in his closet.
“Tapping campaign funds for personal legal expense could raise eyebrows at the FEC...”
Well, up to now the FEC has taken a pretty wide stance! :-)
Craig really should quit “stalling”.
Tapping toes raises eyebrows with the police.
Funny how no mention is made in this article about other politicians that use campaign funds for legal defence.
Demoncrats from Louisiana, Ohio, New Jersey and California come to mind.
Poorly researched article, never mentioning the history of FEC tough (cough!) enforcement in campaign laws.
Not a new article, just a smear attempt.
The only losers are those on this board who jump at the chance to slit the throat of one of their own. Larry Craig is one of the most reliable Senators who stood up and continues to stand up against the eco-communist running our government. But, since folks in the republican party who are only interested in killing it, we will reap the benefits of being puppets of the extreme left wing nazis.
There are only cowards and selfish power hungry people in the republican party these days. Better to hang someone and let the seat go to another democrat than do anything to stand up for the guy and win which is clearly a set up by the demonazi party.
I bet not one of you know what the founders of this country said about Hamiltons personal shenannigans during the first congress. “NONE OF OUR BUSINESS” is what they said. This is the same.
Craig slit his own throat by showing extremely poor judgment throughout this episode.
None of our business!
A misdemeanor is, by definition, a public offense, so it is our business.
Is Craig’s use of campaign funds for personal matters also none of our business?
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