Life after divorce for Sen. Mark Kirk is coming with new attacks from his ex-wife, Kimberly Vertolli.
The D.C.-area lawyer filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission last year alleging her ex-husband may have hidden campaign payments to his then-girlfriend, Dodie McCracken, during his 2010 Senate run, the Chicago Tribune reports.
McCracken, who is in public relations, acknowledged she received more than $143,000 for her work on the Kirk campaign.
Vertolli insisted Kirk may have paid McCracken through another company instead of directly, keeping her name off federal disclosure forms.
Candidates can pay relatives or friends for their campaign work under federal law.
Vertolli also worked on Kirk’s Senate campaign. She was paid $40,000. That money went to a corporate entity she founded after starting work on her ex-husband’s campaign. Vertolli’s name didn’t appear in federal disclosures. She insisted there was nothing wrong with that, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Kirk’s campaign denied any wrongdoing and accused Vertolli of abusing the FEC process.
“While Sen. 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 groundless complaint consisting of bitter personal attacks,” according to a statement from Eric Elk, Kirk’s campaign manager.
The FEC could decide to dismiss the complaint or launch an investigation if officials believe campaign finance law was broken.
