Ayotte calls charges against NH Republican ‘troubling’

The revelations that Rep. Frank Guinta (R-N.H.) accepted more than $300,000 in illegal campaign contributions is “serious and troubling,” Sen. Kelly Ayotte said Friday. 

Ayotte, a New Hampshire Republican, criticized Guinta during an appearance on WMUR-9 in the state on Friday over new revelations from the Federal Election Commission that he deposited $355,000 in checks from his parents into a personal account and later used the money to make a loan to his 2010 congressional campaign.

{mosads}“He should fully explain and account for his actions to the people of New Hampshire, because public service is an honor, and we have a duty to maintain the public’s trust,” she said.

Ayotte wouldn’t call for Guinta’s resignation but said “time will tell” whether he should step down. 

The FEC document made public this week says that Guinta accepted an illegally excessive campaign contribution and that he did not properly disclose it. Guinta, who has faced the allegations since 2010, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and argued in the FEC document that he did not break campaign law.

He said in a statement that he agreed to repay the $355,000 with a $15,000 fine.

Ayotte endorsed Guinta during his 2014 race to win back the congressional seat from then-Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-N.H.). He released an ad in that race accusing Shea-Porter of lying about his finances for bringing up the donations during a debate.

The revelations continue to dog Guinta, whom Democrats are targeting in 2016. The New Hampshire Union Leader published an editorial on Friday about the ordeal that quoted the paper’s publisher, who said, “Frank Guinta is a damned liar.”