Madison Cawthorn Could Face Huge Campaign Fine

Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC), who lost his primary for reelection after only one term, has received even more bad news. After spending general election campaign funds during the primary (big no-no), he also filed his quarterly report with the Federal Election Commission late. All that could mean a fine of around $17,000. From the Citizen Times:

Cawthorn’s paperwork showed a campaign that through June 30 spent more than it brought in, despite a $207,858 donation from the personal funds of the 27-year-old first-term Henderson County congressman.

A total of $248,098 was refunded to contributors, likely because they gave money to be spent for the Nov. 8 general election for the 11th House District covering Western North Carolina.

The second quarter report was due July 15 to federal campaign finance regulators, but Cawthorn did not file until Aug. 14, according to his paperwork.

According to the FEC website’s fine calculator, Cawthorn could owe as much as $17,141, although FEC commissioners will vote to determine what the actual fine will be.