INSIDE EDITION Report Prompts Watchdog Group to Call for Investigation of NY Congressman's Use of Campaign Funds

The Campaign Legal Center, a non-partisan watchdog group based in Washington D.C., has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission requesting an investigation into U.S. Congressman Ed Towns as a result of a recent Inside Edition I-Squad report.   

The report, which aired on May 1st, exposed how some congressmen are using taxpayer funds to drive around in style, paying up to $1,300 a month to lease luxury vehicles.

The report also found Rep. Towns' wife, Gwen, driving around Brooklyn, NY in a luxury Infiniti sedan with congressional tags.  She was observed day after day - driving to the carwash, the dry cleaners and back and forth to work at a local hospital.  But Towns doesn't pay for that car.  Records show the $602 lease on the Infiniti is paid for with the congressman's campaign funds, an apparent violation of campaign finance rules .

After seeing the Inside Edition report and conducting their own review of disclosure reports, the Campaign Legal Center filed  a complaint with the Federal Election Commission on May, 30th alleging Congressman Towns " has converted campaign funds to personal use in violation of the Federal Election Campaign Act," and called for an investigation.  

In the report, Inside Edition correspondent Lisa Guerrero caught up with Rep. Towns and asked, "Your wife has been driving a car that's paid for with campaign funds, is that appropriate?"

"I have no idea what you are talking about," he replied as he walked away.

See INSIDE EDITION's May 1, 2012 report on this story here.