A conservative watchdog group filed a complaint Monday with the Federal Election Commission alleging that then-Rep. Eric Massa’s campaign violated campaign laws and seeking an investigation into a $40,000 payment to his chief of staff the day after Massa announced his campaign was ending.
Massa’s chief of staff, Joe Racalto, says he properly received the $40,000 payment under an agreement last year to perform political work for the congressman’s campaign, but records show he never reported the existence of such a contract in his 2009 financial disclosure forms. The National Legal and Policy Center’s complaint cites the conflict between Racalto’s explanation and his disclosure forms as reason for the FEC to scrutinize the New York Democrat’s campaign expenditures.
Full story: Watchdog group seeks probe of $40K payment to Massa aide