Democrats Accuse Chenoweth

The state Democratic Party has accused U.S. Rep. Helen Chenoweth, R-Idaho, of making personal use of campaign funds.

If true, it’s a violation of federal election law.

Chenoweth denies the accusation.

The complaint, filed Tuesday with the Federal Elections Commission, alleges the Chenoweth Campaign paid $35,000 to Consulting Associates, a company she co-owned. In turn, the firm paid Chenoweth $55,000 in salary - more than the previous year.

“All indications are that Ms. Chenoweth was paying herself directly or indirectly for ‘consulting’ services to her own campaign,” Bill Mauk, state party chair, said in the complaint.

“By funneling money from her campaign through Consulting Associates Inc. it appears that Ms. Chenoweth was able to launder political contributions for her personal gain,” Mauk said.

This is the second complaint about Chenoweth filed in three months by the state Democrats. The FEC will investigate both.

“We have absolutely nothing to hide,” Chenoweth said Tuesday. “The problem is that Mr. Mauk has to defend the failed policies of the last 30 years. Rather than do that, he attacks people.

“I just say, ‘Bill Mauk, get a life.”’

Chenoweth adamantly denied mixing personal money and campaign money when the issue first was raised in November. Campaign treasurer Wayne Crow said the campaign ran out of room at headquarters and had to use Consulting Associates’ offices and telephones. Some of the money paid from the campaign to Chenoweth’s firm went to cover that, Crow said.

Payments also went to cover consulting done for the campaign by Vern Ravenscroft, Chenoweth’s partner in Consulting Associates, Crow said. The other complaint involves a questionable unsecured bank loan to her campaign.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: BYLINE = Ken Olsen Staff writer Staff writer Betsy Russell contributed to this report.