July 21, 2011 12:58 PM

John Edwards owes $2.3M to the feds, FEC says

By
Stephanie Condon
Topics
In The News
John Edwards (Credit: Eric Thayer/Getty Images)

In the latest setback for the former Democratic presidential contender, the Federal Election Commission ruled today that John Edwards' 2008 presidential campaign owes the federal government $2.3 million.

The FEC said it agreed with an audit that showed the John Edwards for President Committee should pay back the government $2.1 million in matching funds it wasn't entitled to receive. Presidential candidates can apply to receive "matching funds" from the government, which are financed by $3 donations taxpayers make on their tax forms.

The rest of the money owed, the FEC said, was for "stale-dated checks," the agency's term for checks sent back to donors but never cashed. The FEC most of those funds were refunds to donors for earlier donations intended strictly for general election use. FEC rules require any money not collected by the original donor must be sent to the government.

Now that they've agreed with the audit, the FEC will vote to officially approve the final audit report. Once that happens, the Edwards campaign will have 90 days to pay or 60 days to request a review of the decision.

Last month, in an unrelated case, Edwards was indicted on six felony charges for allegedly using more than $900,000 in campaign contributions to keep his pregnant mistress out of sight during his 2008 run for president.


Add a Comment See all 20 Comments
by cbs_bull July 21, 2011 8:45 PM EDT
Good, it's payback time for Edwards. But it's only in millions.

When is the payback time for Bush/Cheney? I'm afraid that would be in billions if not in trillions... Unfortunately, the biggest criminals are usually hard to reach in current USA. So sad.
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by ammo17 July 21, 2011 5:50 PM EDT
move over JA-RULE we have another citizen that owes income tax to the government.let us see if if this low life goes to jail,i doubt it very much.
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by sapphyre1120 July 21, 2011 5:15 PM EDT
Let the Karma begin. May Susan Edwards RIP!
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by TalMD July 21, 2011 4:14 PM EDT
This definitely will send a tingle up his legs- Chris Matthews (MSNBC)
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by Doeye July 21, 2011 3:55 PM EDT
Does it not anger anyone that there is a Presidential Election Campaign Fund or that our tax dollars are actually used to help folks run for president??? Really???? And they can't seem to balance the budget or come to an agreement......hey, how about NOT matching campaign funds or better yet - freeze your salaries - start paying to SS instead of having your own private retirement fund to draw from (paid by the taxpayers); or life long pay checks, even if you only work 2 years. I don't know of any other job that guarantees this. When the policians STOP with the entitlements they feel they deserve, that is when I will start taking them seriously and believe they are trully looking after the American populace.
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by ssporleder July 21, 2011 2:49 PM EDT
This is NOT a party affiliation thing.

This is a selfish, immoral pig who cheated on his wife, and there are plenty of those in going around in every party.

He should go to jail for supporting his home wrecking concubine.

I always thought this man looked slippery and he proved me correct.

Payback is a b-itch, isn't John?
Reply to this comment
by seedobecome July 21, 2011 2:45 PM EDT
Where was John Kerry in the vetting of this VP candidate? Just curious.
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by endrepubs July 21, 2011 5:16 PM EDT
This stuff with Edwards started AFTER the 2004 election. Don't blame Kerry for not vetting Edwards.
by phuyay July 21, 2011 2:43 PM EDT
"We"may never get him but if he gets involved with our legal system, he will be in the news for years reminding everybody about his Democrat party affiliation. His troubles are like Weiner's on steroids!!
Reply to this comment
by seedobecome July 21, 2011 2:43 PM EDT
Where was John Kerry in the vetting of this VP candidate? Just curious.
Reply to this comment
by TalMD July 21, 2011 2:16 PM EDT
HOPE this were "Bush's fault" as well - DNC
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