WASHINGTON — Personal financial maneuvers nearly ended Mike Pence’s political career before it even began.
In 1990, during an unsuccessful bid for Congress, Pence used campaign contributions to pay for personal expenses, including his mortgage, his wife’s car payment, a personal credit card, parking tickets, groceries and golf greens fees.
Federal Election Commission documents show that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee filed a complaint against Pence and three other candidates.
At the time, Pence defended the expenses, saying he took a 30 percent pay cut to run for office. The year before he ran, Pence, a lawyer, reported earning more than $75,000 and held about $50,000 in stock.
“I’m not embarrassed that I need to make a living,” Pence said at the time.
Pence’s campaign didn’t dispute paying the personal expenses but argued they were allowed under federal law.
The FEC deadlocked 3-3 over whether his costs were legal.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
-
ColumnsJ.P. Devine Podcast: Is Waterville doomed to keep repeating itself?
-
Schools and Education
Maine policy supports incorporating LGBTQ lessons, but lacking guidance, most schools aren’t doing it
-
Outdoors
Ask Maine Audubon: Targeting pests can impact any other species in the area
-
Letters to the Editor
Smith ready to help small businesses
-
Letters to the Editor
Republicans, vote for Michaud with pride
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have one? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login to participate in the conversation. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.