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