MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) – Some Alabama legislators have received subpoenas for campaign finance records in what appears to be an attorney general’s review of campaign spending.
At least two lawmakers confirmed to The Associated Press that they had received subpoenas from the attorney general’s office for campaign spending records – but expressed confidence they had done nothing wrong. Another alluded to a subpoena in a social media post.
While the direction of the review is unclear, it appears to be focused on whether lawmakers followed state law in how they spent campaign funds, including if purchases made with campaign-paid credit cards were all related to the campaign and properly reported.
The review comes five months after a prominent Republican lawmaker pleaded guilty to charges related to using campaign money for personal expenses.
Secretary of State John Merrill, whose office receives campaign finance reports filed by candidates, said he had conversations beginning in the summer with the attorney general’s office about entries on some politicians’ reports. Merrill said they sought information about expenditures that “raised questions in their minds.”