Perot Finances Fec Suit With Campaign Funds

Late last year, Ross Perot sued the Federal Election Commission in a dispute over federal campaign funds. Last week his lawyers revealed that he’s paying for the suit with federal campaign funds.

The businessman and 1996 Reform Party presidential candidate filed two civil suits in federal courts against the FEC, charging it with foot-dragging on his complaint about being excluded from presidential debates and alleging discrimination in the distribution of public funds to him.

At a news conference last week, Perot lawyers revealed that the litigation is being financed with $2.3 million of taxpayer funds left over at the end of the last campaign.

Reform Party Chairman Russell Verney added that the FEC is now trying to force the party to return the funds to the Treasury. Perot said that if the party loses that fight, he will pay for the continuing litigation himself.