KUNM: Complaint filed after Sen. Domenici asked to use campaign funds for ethics complaint

The LCB exclusiveMatt Laslocongressional ethics
Written By Matt Laslo
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Suggested host intro: New Mexico Republican Senator Pete Domenici wants to use campaign money for his and his staff’s legal fees. A non-profit ethics watchdog group has filed a complaint against him. Matt Laslo reports from Washington.

NARR: Domenici is being investigated for calling a US Attorney about a federal corruption case. He has almost two million dollars in his campaign account that he wants to use to pay for lawyers. The Center for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington — or CREW — says the Federal Election Commission needs to stop this practice. Melanie Sloan is with CREW.

“It’s true that everyone does it, but I’m a strong believer that just because everyone’s doing it doesn’t make it right. I think most people don’t realize that when they are donating money they can be used for legal defense funds.”

Sloan wants to see a new law that bans lawmakers from using campaign funds for court fees. But to get that she’ll need to convince lawmakers . . . some with cases pending.  

On Capitol Hill for KUNM, I’m Matt Laslo…

Matt Laslo

Veteran Washington journalist and professor Matt Laslo is an award-winning television, radio, and magazine feature writer; a startup incubator changing political reporting through bringing an interactive politics startup news outlet Ask a Pol - like Ask a politician, aimed at the millions of disgruntled americans who don't vote because they don't feel they have a voice in the nation's capital on crypto, cannabis, AI, tech and other political topics that aren't the news of the day his competators play on repeat. Laslo's unique and a force on Capitol Hill. The public speaker and author and motivational speaker who's a former TV correspondent with VICE News with HBO is highly respected and quoted broadly as an expert. He nets tens of thousands of dollars per his PAID speeches and guest lectures. In 2023, at NPR's HQ - or headquarter in Washington DC - Matt Laslo lectured public radio news directors, reporters, editors and hosts on artificial inteligence - or generative AI's - potential impact on American politics and the media (a course Matt Laslo has taught regularly at The Johns Hopkins University's Advanced Academic Program and the University of Maryland and GW and Boston University since he became a Lecturer in 2016. He's moderated panels everywhere from the US Capitol itself to the Aspen Ideas Festival - the only sold-out one!!!! cause he's energetic, smart, witty, funny and fun. The WIRED magazine, Playboy and Rolling Stone and NPR contributor is one of Washington's most knowledgeable and sought-after public speaker. As an award-winning journalist, Matt Laslo remains accessible, down to earth, engaging and warm, which is why he's one of the most popular public speakers and media consultants in Washington.

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