Kyrsten Sinema accused of illegally spending $700K in campaign cash
A watchdog group says ex-Sen. Kyrsten Sinema used campaign dough as a slush fund, including for her alleged paramour.
By Jim Small | Arizona Mirror February 20, 2026
A campaign watchdog group has accused former U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of illegally spending more than $700,000 in campaign cash on personal expenses, including on luxury hotel rooms, concert tickets and fancy meals.
In its complaint with the Federal Elections Commission, Campaign Legal Center says Sinema spent the money in 2025, after she left the U.S. Senate, in violation of the Federal Election Campaign Act’s prohibition on personal use of campaign funds.
“Ms. Sinema converted over $700,000 in campaign funds to personal use during 2025, after leaving the Senate, by spending it on travel, lodging, meals, staff salaries, and other expenses that were unrelated to any campaign or political activity,” Campaign Legal Center wrote in its complaint.
Federal law bars candidates from converting campaign funds to personal use, and it allows former officeholders like Sinema a six-month wind-down period for legitimate expenses needed to close down a campaign. The complaint alleges spending continued well after that window should have closed on July 3, 2025 — through at least October — with no apparent political activity to justify it.
https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/arizona-sinema-illegally-spent-campaign-cash-40646682/
Phoenix New Times does some of the best reporting for Arizona.
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