John Edwards Repays $2.1 Million In Campaign Finances
Former Presidential hopeful John Edwards this week repaid $2.1 million in public matching funds after the FEC ruled unanimously last year that Edwards was improperly paid the taxpayer money after he suspended his campaign on Jan. 30, 2008, at that time the campaign had received $12.8 million in public-matching funds.
Edwards went on to appeal the ruling but it was ultimately upheld by the FEC last month and the agency at that time demanded that all money be repaid within 30 days.
A rep for the FEC confirmed on Wednesday that the check arrived at the US Treasure just one week before the deadline was set to expire.
A recent report shows that the now defunct Edwards campaign spent $836,712 in 2011 expenses, most of which went to legal fees. Money was also spent for airfare, hotel rooms, bottled water and various other bills.
While John Edwards may have taken care of that big FEC fine he’ll now have to turn his attention towards a criminal trial which begins tomorrow in Greensboro, North Carolina.
The North Carolina lawsuit stems from charges over campaign finance violations regarding nearly $1 million paid by two wealthy donors in order to help hide the pregnancy of Edwards’ mistress Reilly Hunter. Edwards has already pled not guilty to the charges and if convicted he could face up to 30 years in prison and be forced to pay another $1.5 million in fines.
Since his 2008 presidential run John Edwards has lost his wife to cancer, has been charged in several lawsuits and has watched his political career come to an end. Perhaps running for the Office of the President wasn’t the right decision in hindsight.
