CHICAGO ? A complaint sent to the Federal Election Commission by the former wife of Senator Mark Steven Kirk of Illinois claimed Mr. Kirk may have violated campaign finance law during a 2010 race to fill President Obama?s former Senate seat.
Kimberly Vertolli, a lawyer who received $40,000 from the campaign, filed the complaint about her former husband in November 2011, according to The Chicago Tribune, which first reported the allegation on Tuesday.
It accused Mr. Kirk, 52, of improperly hiding fees and expenses to his then-girlfriend, Dodie McCracken, for her work during the race by funneling it through another company working for the campaign, the newspaper reported.
While federal law allows candidates to hire friends and family to work on campaigns, they are required to disclose the individuals to whom they give money. Judith Ingram, a spokeswoman for the commission, confirmed that the complaint had been received, but declined to comment, citing a confidential review process.
Ms. McCracken, who works in public relations, said The Patterson Group, a local advertising firm that received $1.85 million from Mr. Kirk?s campaign, paid her more than $143,000 for consulting and expenses from August 2009 to August 2010, according to The Tribune.
Mr. Kirk?s office has dismissed the complaint, saying the campaign did nothing wrong.
?While Senator Kirk and Ms. Vertolli divorced amicably three years ago and she actively supported Mr. Kirk?s 2010 Senate campaign, Ms. Vertolli has since filed a baseless complaint consisting of bitter personal attacks and is attempting to involve a federal agency in a divorce settled 36 months ago,? a spokeswoman for Mr. Kirk said in a written statement. ?We responded to the F.E.C. on Dec. 31, 2011, and are confident that the commission will dismiss the complaint.?
Mr. Kirk, a Republican, served five terms in Congress before winning the Senate seat in 2010. He has not held any public appearances since having a major stroke in January, which has affected the use of his left arm and leg.
Mr. Kirk would not have to run for re-election until 2016.
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