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RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The state Republican Party must repay a $100,000 illegal contribution from a national group – and the group must pay a $10,000 fine – under a consent agreement reached Wednesday with the state Elections Board.
The Republican State Leadership Committee – a group formed to help elect GOP state legislators, attorneys general and lieutenant governors – borrowed the money from Wachovia bank a day before setting up in North Carolina in October.
The organization then donated the cash to the N.C. Senatorial Trust, which works to elect Republican state senators; the trust passed it along to the state Republican Party.
State Democrats filed a complaint.
Under state law, political committees in North Carolina can take donations only from individuals and other political organizations.