Debbie Lesko Hit With Second Campaign Finance Complaint

PHOENIX, AZ – Debbie Lesko, who just won a resounding victory in the Republican primary to replace former Rep. Trent Frank in Congress, now faces a second complaint with the Federal Election Commission.

The Campaign Legal Center, a group that calls for tougher enforcement of campaign finance laws, is raising questions about a $50,000 transfer from her state campaign committee to a third party that spent almost all of its cash in support of her congressional campaign.

"Congressional candidates cannot use state campaign funds to support their federal candidacy, and Lesko’s scheme is a form of political money laundering that the FEC must address," said the group's director of federal and FEC reform, Brendan Fischer, about the complaint.

"Lesko’s willingness to engage in such a blatantly illegal scheme might suggest that the perceived costs of a future FEC fine don’t outweigh the benefits of funding a supporting super PAC, but that is all the more reason for the FEC to take these violations seriously."

One of the people Lesko defeated, Phil Lovas, also filed a complaint with the FEC.

Lesk has maintained that there was nothing wrong with the transfer.

Photo via Bob Christie/AP Photo.