Hartford, CT - State Democratic Chairwoman Nancy DiNardo filed a formal complaint with the Federal Elections Commission today.
“Peckinpaugh may have concealed $70,000 in expenditures, illegally used campaign funds for personal use, and failed to pay thousands to staff and small businesses,’ said DiNardo. “She should address these issues immediately, or drop her candidacy for state representative.”
DiNardo’s complaint highlighted the following:
-Expenditures totaling $68,090.57, or 25% of her overall expenditures, were filed without description. For transparency reasons, all expenditures must be detailed under federal election law.
-Peckinpaugh’s campaign made $8,051.52 in unspecified “reimbursements” to Peckinpaugh. FEC law states that reimbursements must be documented. This is a protection against candidates illegally using campaign funds for personal expenses.
-Failure to disclose a debt of $22,359.12, and to whom this debt is owed. Under federal election law, debt is allowed but a candidate must report to whom the money is owed.
The full complaint and documentation is attached.
“These campaign finance laws are there to increase transparency, and to keep candidates from illegally using campaign funds for personal use. Peckinpaugh’s report – which contained nearly $70,000 in unspecified expenditures, and over $8,000 in unspecified reimbursements – is full of egregious violations. She is one of the worst offenders of campaign finance law that I’ve seen in years,” said DiNardo.
“Starting another run for office when you’re $20,000 in debt from your last run is unconscionable. These funds could be owed to campaign staffers, vendors, and Connecticut small businesses who helped her campaign,” DiNardo continued. “If Peckinpaugh manages the state budget like she managed her campaign budget, we’re all in trouble if she gets to Hartford.”
