Group files complaint about Hunter with the FEC

Following up on a story the Globe first reported, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission asking it look into how Congressman Duncan Hunter might be illegally using his political action committee to aid his presidential campaign.

Several campaign finance experts told the Globe that Hunter's use of his PAC to purchase ads in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina while he is an announced candidate with a separate campaign committee could be against the spirit of the law.

His campaign contends they are "issue ads" and that while Hunter appears and narrates the ad he never mentions his presidential campaign.

"By leveraging his leadership PAC to advance his ambitions, he has clearly violated federal election law," said Melanie Sloan, the executive director of CREW. "If Rep. Hunter wants to play in presidential politics, he needs to learn to follow the rules."