Rep. Andrews Says He'll Open Books For Election Spending Probe
By Mike DeNardo
CAMDEN, N.J. (CBS) -- US Rep. Rob Andrews (D-NJ) says he'll cooperate with an investigaton into allegations that he spent campaign money on personal expenses.
Andrews there's nothing to the complaint that has been filed with the Federal Election Commission by a watchdog group alleging he used $9,000 in campaign funds to pay for a family trip to Scotland (see previous story).
"This complaint is baseless," Andrews reiterated today at a wreath-laying ceremony at the Battleship New Jersey (see related story). "We've always followed every law in every respect, and that's what the verdict of this will be. So of course we'll cooperate in every way."
Andrews says he repaid the campaign with his personal funds.
"We always follow the law. We always will. But I certianly want to avoid any controversy that diverts attention from the things people really care about -- which is jobs, education, the economy," Andrews said.
Andrews says he's opening his books for the investigation, and he challenged his critics to open theirs as well.
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