$2.1M down the John

RALEIGH, NC — Federal election officials say John Edwards owes taxpayers reimbursement of more than $2.1 million in public matching funds improperly received after he dropped his 2008 run for the White House, yet disclosure reports show his failed campaign is still spending freely.

Edwards’ hopes for the Democratic presidential nomination imploded in a sex scandal four years ago that left him facing criminal charges. But reports filed last week show his 2008 primary campaign spent $836,712 in 2011 on airfare, hotel rooms, cellphones and other expenses.

JOHN EDWARDS
Squeezed for fed funds.

The campaign reported $2.1 million in cash remaining as of Dec. 31, a figure close to what the Federal Election Commission says Edwards still owes.

Patricia A. Fiori, a lawyer working for Edwards in the FEC case, said this week she could not comment, referring questions to the campaign, which could not be reached.