Insurance commissioner sending challenged donation to feds

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey says he’s sending money his campaign received from the state Republican Party to the federal government, whose investigators already are scrutinizing a leading state political donor.

Causey told WRAL-TV it was the FBI’s idea to send in the $240,000 received in July. The agency told him he couldn’t return it to the GOP.

A state elections complaint filed Monday by a former county Democratic Party official alleges the money came from $1.5 million Durham investment firm founder Greg Lindberg. The complaint claims Lindberg gave the money to the Republican Party to bypass individual donation limits to campaign committees.

Causey and a state GOP leader said campaign finance laws were followed.

Federal investigators have subpoenaed the Insurance Department seeking information on Lindberg and related companies.

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For AP’s complete coverage of the U.S. midterm elections: http://apne.ws/APPolitics

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Information from: WRAL-TV, http://www.wral.com