Consumer Group Complains About GOP Donor

WASHINGTON – A consumer watchdog group filed a complaint Thursday accusing a Republican donor of flouting campaign laws by funneling money to a Kentucky Republican through an anti-abortion group's political action committee and others.

Public Citizen said in a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (search) that Quentin Nesbitt (search) of Cincinnati gave GOP House candidate Geoff Davis (search) $15,000 above the legal limit of $4,000 with the help of political action committees.

The complaint states that Nesbitt made $15,000 in contributions to six PACs this election cycle, and that five of the six PACs turned around and gave the $15,000 to Davis' campaign.

Public Citizen said the one PAC that didn't contribute to Davis' campaign is New Jersey Republican Rep. Michael Ferguson's leadership PAC. That fund-raising committee shares the same treasurer and mailing address as two of the other PACS mentioned in the complaint, Public Citizen reported.

In one case, Nesbitt gave the Family First PAC, an anti-abortion group, $5,000 on March 31, 2003. The PAC contributed the same amount to Davis' campaign that day. The PAC has had no other financial activity this election cycle, according to the complaint.

Davis spokesman Justin Brasell said there was nothing to the complaint, calling them "trumped up charges."

Three Republicans are vying for a seat being vacated by Democratic Rep. Ken Lucas, who is retiring after three terms representing the 4th Congressional District, which snakes along the Ohio river and includes much of the northern Kentucky suburbs near Cincinnati.

The primary is May 18.

Nick Clooney is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination.