The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission is expected to issue an advisory opinion soon about former State Senator Wayne Bryant’s ability to use his leftover campaign funds to help finance his legal defense. Bryant, who has about $650,000 in his warchest, has been indicted on twenty counts of official corruption. Another former State Senator, Joseph Coniglio, has already used about $90,000 from his campaign account to pay his lawyer. Coniglio, who is the target of a federal probe but has not been charged, dropped his bid for re-election last year.
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they'll likely allow it
The FEC has allowed Tom Delay (and Democrats too, I imagine) to use campaign funds for legal defense, but supposedly only in cases where the allegations of wrongdoing related to conduct in office.
However, then the FEC also allowed Larry Craig to use campaign funds for lawyers in both his Senate ethics probe, as well as his Minnesota criminal case. Not sure how the FEC justified that one.
ELEC will probably allow this for Bryant and Coniglio, since their actions related to official conduct.
Its despicable, and if I donated money to them, I'd want a refund.
After Retirement...
While I am certainly not sure on this, isn't it true that an elected official, after retirement, can keep his campaign money? If that is the case, it seems that Bryant is okay here since he isn't running again.
Wally, what does the law say on campaign funds after an elected official no longer holds office? What happens to that money?
after retirement...
the lawmaker's candidate committee can keep the money. Its supposed to be used for political purposes (i.e., supporting candidates he/she likes, or saving it for a future campaign).
However, some retired politicians have used it as a borderline slush-fund, to pay for drivers, phone bills, offices, etc.