Domenici adopts wide stance in use of campaign funds
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Senator Pete Domenici is taking a page out of Idaho Senator Larry Craig’s book. Like Craig, he wants to use campaign funds to cover legal expenses associated with his defense against a Senate Ethics Committee inquiry.
Craig has spent $23,000 in fighting his case before the ethics committee that stemmed from the men's restroom sex sting in Minneapolis. Craig also intends to use campaign funds to wage his criminal defense in Minnesota.
Domenici has asked for an advisory opinion from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to allow him to use his $1.78 million campaign cash to pay his lawyers and those of his staff.
The original ethics complaint against Domenici was filed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) on March 5, 2007, asking that the Ethics Committee investigate whether Domenici violated Senate Rules in his pressuring of the U.S. Attorney David C. Iglesias about an ongoing corruption probe.
Now CREW Director, Melanie Sloan, is calling for an end to the practice of using money raised under the auspices of a political campaign for legal defense funds.
Craig has spent $23,000 in fighting his case before the ethics committee that stemmed from the men's restroom sex sting in Minneapolis. Craig also intends to use campaign funds to wage his criminal defense in Minnesota.
Domenici has asked for an advisory opinion from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to allow him to use his $1.78 million campaign cash to pay his lawyers and those of his staff.
The original ethics complaint against Domenici was filed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) on March 5, 2007, asking that the Ethics Committee investigate whether Domenici violated Senate Rules in his pressuring of the U.S. Attorney David C. Iglesias about an ongoing corruption probe.
Now CREW Director, Melanie Sloan, is calling for an end to the practice of using money raised under the auspices of a political campaign for legal defense funds.
Besides, there need not be any legal defense if good ole Pete did nothing wrong. Of course I know that anything can happen and if legal defense is necessary Pete should solicite the Republican Party who was so curious with David Iglesias and his prosecution of Democrats.