State Says Leggett Improperly Used Campaign Money

While Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett says he was only trying to save taxpayer money, the Maryland State Board of Elections has decided that he improperly used thousands in campaign money for overseas trips.

The trips to El Salvador, Ethiopia and China between 2011 and 2013 as part of the county’s “Sister Cities” program failed to have a direct tie to election efforts, the election board says.

Reimbursing his campaign for the trips has cost Leggett nearly $40,000, The Washington Post reports.

“I just wanted to make sure that in the midst of a recession that we were keeping our expenses down,” Leggett told the newspaper.

His campaign for a third term ended with $425,000 cash on hand, according to election filings.

»Read the full Washington Post story here.