Ron BhallaRepublican congressional candidate Ron Bhalla appears to be in violation of federal campaign finance law, but he calls it an innocent mistake.
Bhalla is a Chattanooga businessman challenging U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann in Tennessee’s 3rd Congressional District Republican primary. On April 14, Bhalla submitted his first campaign finance report to the Federal Election Commission.
Late Friday, Bhalla’s 11-page report included just one expenditure — a $14,145 lump-sum disbursement to himself without any additional information. Federal Election Commission regulations require candidates to provide “a brief but specific description” of every campaign expenditure.
Bhalla’s blue-and-white campaign signs are all over town, and he recently purchased brochures and business cards.
Those items aren’t mentioned in Bhalla’s filing.