Lawmaker Admits He Took Illegal Gift

Rep. Frank Guinta (R-NH) “has apologized without admitting significant wrongdoing after the Federal Election Commission concluded he broke the law by accepting campaign donations from his parents,” the AP reports.

“In 2010, Guinta reported lending himself $355,000 and amended a disclosure form to add a previously unreported bank account… Over the years, Guinta flatly denied the money came from his parents or that it was an illegal campaign donation… But in an agreement made public last week, the FEC concluded that the money came from his parents’ bank accounts and fined him $15,000.”

Boston Globe: “If he resigns, it would trigger a special election for the US House amid the state’s first-in-the-nation presidential primary. If Guinta seeks reelection, he would very likely face a nasty primary fight and general election… If he decides not to run again, another Republican could run — and former Massachusetts US Senator Scott Brown just tweeted a picture of his new condo from Guinta’s district.”