By Staff Writer, Associated Press, March 13, 2007

14 Mar 2007 // A liberal-leaning watchdog group filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday accusing Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter of improperly using a congressional fundraising committee to promote his presidential campaign.

The complaint by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington cited Hunter's "Peace Through Strength" political action committee, a so-called leadership PAC that lawmakers are permitted to establish to raise money for other candidates.

According to the complaint, Hunter used the committee in December 2006 to pay for "thinly-veiled campaign advertisements in early primary states promoting Rep. Hunter's support for constructing a fence along the US-Mexico border."

The cost of the ads exceeded the $5,000 limit that the PAC could legally have made to Hunter's presidential campaign, according to the complaint, while some contributions to the committee were more than the $2,300 limit that an individual can donate to a presidential candidate.

"By leveraging his leadership PAC to advance his ambitions, he has clearly violated federal election law," said CREW executive director Melanie Sloan.

A Hunter campaign spokesman had no immediate comment.