Kansas City Star: Hawley illegally paid Senate consultants with state campaign funds
Democratic legal fund is pressing the Federal Election Commission for an investigation of Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley, alleging that the Republican’s state campaign illegally paid consultants for his Senate bid.
State campaign funds cannot be used for federal campaigns. The rule is intended to ensure that candidates cannot dodge federal contribution limits by raising money under higher state caps and using it for their Senate or congressional campaigns, said Brendan Fischer, director of federal and FEC reform for the Campaign Legal Center, a nonpartisan watchdog in Washington, D.C.
But as Fischer pointed out, Missouri does allow officeholders to use campaign funds for “any ordinary and necessary expenses incurred in connection with the duties of a holder of elective office.”