Watchdog: Romney super-PAC contribution might have been illegal

A watchdog called for a Federal Election Commission investigation Monday of contributions from a super-PAC to GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s campaign.

The Campaign Legal Center filed a complaint with the commission to request further inquiries into Restore Our Future’s paid television spots using a 2008 Romney campaign ad. The center said this action is breaking the law because super-PACs are not allowed to make direct or in-kind contributions to candidates, including re-publishing campaign materials “prepared by a candidate.”

{mosads}“Restore Our Future’s expenditure to republish a Romney campaign ad is considered a contribution from the Super PAC to the Romney campaign under FEC regulations, but Super PACs are prohibited from contributing to candidates,” Campaign Legal Center counsel Paul Ryan said in a statement.  

“The airing of these ads constitutes a clear violation of federal law by the shadow campaign committee Restore Our Future.”

The Hill previously reported the instance of Restore Our Future paying for air time for a Romney ad that was prepared initially for Romney’s 2008 presidential run.