Ashcroft Fined Over Campaign Fundraising Violations From Years Ago

Attorney General John Ashcroft is back in the campaign fund-raising business again – not because he’s running for something, but because of what he ran for in the past. His presidential campaign committee of 1998 and his Senator campaign committee of 2000 have been fined a total of $37,000 for violating campaign finance laws. Ashcroft also owes lawyers more than $20,000 for defending him before the Federal Elections Commission. Ashcroft’s campaign treasurer says the fine will be paid within the 60-day payment period required. The fine is much smaller than the $110,000-plus that the campaign raised above federal limits.