Candidates for federal office are prohibited from using campaign funds for personal purposes.  That's why CREW filed ethics complaints against Sarah Palin, the RNC and several members of Congress who purchased clothes with campaign funds. 

One of the members, Rep. Rob Andrews (D-NJ), bought clothes with campaign funds after an airline lost his luggage.  According to the congressman's office, the airline reimbursed Andrews and he paid back the campaign.  But, it's not that simple as Melanie Sloan explained:

"Here's the problem: Even though they paid it back, your campaign funds are not your personal line of credit," said Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.

"You and I don't have a slush fund when our luggage is lost that we can use until we're reimbursed by the airlines," Sloan continued. "Members can't treat their campaign funds like a personal credit line. That's not what it's there for."

Melanie added:

"The rules are very clear about clothing. You can't convert campaign funds for personal use. Buying clothing is a personal use," Sloan said. "It's a black-and-white rule." 

Members of Congress and federal candidates can't choose which laws they follow.