Don Vito Corleone
Elite
- Feb 10, 2000
- 30,029
- 66
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I would have thought misuse of campaign funds for personal gain unrelated to their legitimate use wouldn't be considered a waste of taxpayer funds.
The issue is whether these were ever intended to be campaign funds. It would appear that they were donated to him with an understanding that they would be used for personal purposes and not on the campaign itself. I do not pretend to be an expert on federal campaign laws - they are highly technical and I don't work in that area - but I would find it very surprising if the mere fact that a person is running for office means that he can't accept gifts which are not campaign funds, and use them as he deems appropriate. The legal commentators on the Edwards case all seem to agree that the prosecution's application of the campaign laws is something of a reach.
I am sufficiently incensed with Edwards that I can't get all that upset with his prosecution, but it does seem like a waste.