Christine O'Donnell Hit With FEC Complaint Alleging She Used Campaign Funds To Pay Rent

Christine O'Donnell Hit With FEC Complaint Alleging She Used Campaign Funds To Pay Rent

A government watchdog group says Republican Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell used campaign funds to pay her rent and other personal expenses.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has filed a complaint against O'Donnell with the Federal Elections Commission and is asking federal prosecutors to investigate her.

The complaint is based largely on a sworn statement by O'Donnell's former campaign finance consultant, David Keegan. He says O'Donnell used campaign funds to pay her rent in both March and April 2009, then listed the spending as "reimbursement expenses."

The complaint also accuses O'Donnell of using campaign funds to pay for gas, meals and a bowling outing.

"Christine O'Donnell is clearly a criminal, and like any crook she should be prosecuted," explained CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan in a statement. "Ms. O'Donnell has spent years embezzling money from her campaign to cover her personal expenses. Republicans and Democrats don't agree on much these days, but both sides should agree on one point: thieves belong in jail not the United States Senate."

Sloan added, "If you need money to pay the rent and eat, you get a job; you don't start a Senate campaign so unsuspecting donors can support you."

CNN reports that Matt Moran, O'Donnell's campaign manager, responded to the accusations being made against the conservative contender on Monday.

"I am very confident that it will be dismissed as frivolous," he said. "And for the charges that need to be articulated fully, we have some lawyers that will be looking at that and addressing those concerns."

O'Donnell is a tea party favorite who upset longtime U.S. Rep. Mike Castle in Delaware's GOP Senate primary.

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