WILMINGTON, Del. (CN) - Tea party favorite Christine O'Donnell used $20,000 in campaign donations to pay rent and utilities on her Delaware townhouse during her unsuccessful 2010 campaign for U.S. Senate, the FEC claims in court.
The Federal Election Commission used O'Donnell, her Friends of Christine O'Donnell campaign committee and its treasurer Matthew Moran, on Monday in Federal Court.
O'Donnell became a tea party favorite after defeating former Delaware Governor Mike Castle in the 2010 Republican primary, seeking the Senate seat formerly held by Vice President Joe Biden. She was trounced by Democrat Chris Coons in an odd campaign during which O'Donnell denied that she was, or ever had been, a witch.
According to the FEC complaint: "In 2010 and 2011, defendants converted at least $20,000 in campaign contributions given to Friends of Christine O'Donnell, the authorized committee of Christine O'Donnell in her 2010 campaign for United States Senate from Delaware, to the personal use of Christine O'Donnell. Friends of Christine O'Donnell paid rent and utilities for a Greenville, Delaware townhouse that the Committee leased from January 2010 to March 2011 and used as its headquarters. Christine O'Donnell resided on the floors above the campaign office."
The FEC seeks disgorgement, an injunction, and penalties for violation of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971.
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