Christine O'Donnell Wants A Mulligan On Campaign Finance Reports
Christine O'Donnell will file amendments to all the campaign finance reports her campaign filed during the 2009-2010 election cycle, a lawyer for the failed Delaware Republican Senate candidate wrote in a letter to the Federal Election Commission.
All amendments will be filed along with Friends of Christine O'Donnell's year-end report on Jan. 31, GOP power lawyer Cleta Mitchell wrote in a letter to the FEC.
Mitchell also complains that the FEC is raising questions about reports the campaign filed back in 2009, when O'Donnell was acting as her own treasurer.
O'Donnell, who set a state record by raising more than $7.3 million (most of it coming from out of state residents), has been plagued by allegations about the improper use of campaign funds.
Mitchell also writes that prior to the GOP primary in September, the campaign was unable to afford professional compliance vendors and counsel.
Writes Mitchell:
The Committee did not have the funds prior to the 2010 primary in September, 2010 to retain professional compliance vendors and counsel. Since the general election on November 2, 2010, the Committee's compliance team has undertaken the task of going back to the beginning of the election cycle to reconcile all entries in the bank account to the FEC reports and is in the process of preparing amendment(s) to the previously filed reports as necessary.
Mitchell did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
O'Donnell is reportedly under federal investigation over allegations that she broke the law by using campaign money to pay personal expenses. A former staffer has said O'Donnell used campaign money to pay rent and other personal expenses like gas, meals and a bowling outing.
The Tea Party favorite hasn't responded in substance to the allegations. Instead she's taken the fight to the media, suggesting allies of Vice President Joe Biden sicced the FBI on her and constantly pointing out that the ethics group which brought the complaint is funded by George Soros.
Republished with permission from TalkingPointsMemo.com. Authored by Ryan J. Reilly. Photo via Getty. TPM provides breaking news, investigative reporting and smart analysis of politics.