The Federal Election Commission is upholding its previous ruling that the John Edwards campaign must repay $2.1 million in misused campaign funds. The Edwards campaign challenged the ruling last year, saying the funds had been used for "legitimate campaign functions"—not used to cover up his affair and child with campaign contractor Rielle Hunter, as had been alleged.
The FEC responded in a letter to the campaign: "We disagree."
Politico reports:
The Federal Election Commission is unanimously upholding a previous ruling requiring John Edwards’ 2008 presidential campaign to repay more than $2.1 million in federal matching funds to the U.S. Treasury, documents unsealed today indicate.
Edwards’ campaign, which continues to spend significant amounts of money from its campaign account and maintained more than $2.1 million cash on hand through last year, has 30 days to pay the money, the FEC’s ruling states.
Edwards, who says he’s been in poor health recently, is scheduled to face trial this year on felony charges that he violated numerous federal campaign laws in connection with using money to cover up an affair he was having with a campaign videographer.
The Daily Mail reported Thursday that Edwards and his mistress, Ms. Hunter, are planning to have a second child.