Reid faces FEC complaint

Conservative group Citizens United yesterday announced plans to file a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) about Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) use of campaign funds to contribute to the Christmas fund in his condominium.

Reid, taking heat for his failure to report on annual financial disclosures that he had transferred ownership of land in suburban Las Vegas to a limited liability corporation, said Monday he would reimburse his campaign committee for $3,300 in annual donations to the Ritz-Carlton Christmas fund to stave off any allegations of ethical impropriety.

Citizens United President David Bossie, not satisfied by this, said he would dispute the issue with the FEC.

"Senator Reid knows better than to use political contributions for personal services," Bossie said in a statement. He made waves in conservative circles for his recent call that Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) resign in the wake of the former Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.) congressional page scandal.

One Democratic leadership aide, firing back at GOP attempts to impugn Reid’s record, pointed to a 1992 FEC complaint filed against Bossie by former President George H.W. Bush. That complaint stemmed from a Citizens United ad asking voters to call a phone number that played fake conversations between former President Clinton and alleged mistress Gennifer Flowers.

Reid’s office referred requests for comment to Reid’s Monday statement on his reimbursement.