Campaign Reports Reveal More Mishandled Money

Bart Jansen and Alex Knott, CQ Staff


As the FBI continues its investigation of six-figure losses at the National Republican Congressional Committee, new disclosure reports are shedding light on more widespread wrongdoing.

Christopher J. Ward was fired by the NRCC on Jan. 28 amid allegations of false accounting and possible fraud.

Officials described hundreds of thousands of dollars in unauthorized wire transfers to committees and accounts that he controlled, and a forensic audit showed the NRCC’s accounts were short $990,000 at the end of 2006 and $740,000 short at the end of 2007.

But the NRCC wasn’t Ward’s only financial management customer.

Committees controlled by Reps. Phil English , James T. Walsh , Vito J. Fossella , Jeb Hensarling , Charlie Dent and former Rep. Sue Kelly now have disclosed irregularities by filing amended campaign finance reports.........