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A Republican congressional candidate in Florida paid her home energy bill using campaign funds
Link to tweet
- Amanda Makki is running for US House in Florida's 13th District.
- The FEC recently wrote her campaign about an expensed electric bill.
- Her campaign blamed confusing rules and said Makki refunded the money.
A Republican US House candidate in Florida potentially violated federal campaign laws by using donor funds to pay for her home's electric bill.
Amanda Makki's campaign paid more than $600 to Duke Energy, according to a letter the Federal Election Commission sent the campaign last week.
FEC rules prohibit candidates from using donor funds for personal use, whether it be for rent, personal travel, or to pay for an energy bill. The commission has made narrow exemptions for cases in which candidates use donor funds to pay for security at home or on their phones and computers.
The FEC has not fined or otherwise penalized Makki's campaign to date but could investigate the matter if someone filed a complaint.
Eric Wang, an attorney for the Makki campaign, told Insider in an email that the campaign had thought they were allowed to use the funds based on a "good faith" understanding of the "highly confusing" rules. Makki and her campaign use her home office every day as its only campaign headquarters, including to shoot campaign commercials, he said.
"The campaign has used her home for campaign organizational and strategy meetings, campaign fundraising, general work space for campaign staff and volunteers, printing materials for her campaign, storage space for campaign materials, campaign media appearances, and media production associated with her campaign," he said.
- The FEC recently wrote her campaign about an expensed electric bill.
- Her campaign blamed confusing rules and said Makki refunded the money.
A Republican US House candidate in Florida potentially violated federal campaign laws by using donor funds to pay for her home's electric bill.
Amanda Makki's campaign paid more than $600 to Duke Energy, according to a letter the Federal Election Commission sent the campaign last week.
FEC rules prohibit candidates from using donor funds for personal use, whether it be for rent, personal travel, or to pay for an energy bill. The commission has made narrow exemptions for cases in which candidates use donor funds to pay for security at home or on their phones and computers.
The FEC has not fined or otherwise penalized Makki's campaign to date but could investigate the matter if someone filed a complaint.
Eric Wang, an attorney for the Makki campaign, told Insider in an email that the campaign had thought they were allowed to use the funds based on a "good faith" understanding of the "highly confusing" rules. Makki and her campaign use her home office every day as its only campaign headquarters, including to shoot campaign commercials, he said.
"The campaign has used her home for campaign organizational and strategy meetings, campaign fundraising, general work space for campaign staff and volunteers, printing materials for her campaign, storage space for campaign materials, campaign media appearances, and media production associated with her campaign," he said.
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