PORTLAND, Maine — State and federal campaign finance reports show a Maine Democratic Senate hopeful disclosed using her leadership political action committee to reimburse herself for political contributions in 2015 and 2016.
Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon's campaign manager Amy Mesner said Thursday that Gideon's fundraising committee received "incorrect guidance on how to process" such contributions. Gideon hopes to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins in 2020.
Gideon contributed $1,000 to a Democratic congressional candidate in 2015. Gideon's PAC soon after paid her $1,000 as "reimbursement for a federal contribution." Federal law prohibits reimbursing someone for a contribution.
Gideon's leadership PAC was terminated in June. The campaign says she's sent a personal check of $3,250 to the U.S. Treasury to offset such contributions.
The contributions were first reported by The Washington Free Beacon.
