The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission accusing former Senator Kyrsten Sinema of using nearly $2 million in campaign funds for personal expenses after leaving office. The group claims the spending, which continued into 2025, includes items like resort stays and makeup services that appear unrelated to winding down operations. This follows a previous complaint about her travel expenses in 2024.
On Tuesday, the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT), a Washington, D.C.-based watchdog group, submitted a formal complaint to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) regarding former Senator Kyrsten Sinema's (D-AZ) use of campaign funds. FACT alleges that Sinema spent nearly $2 million from her campaign committee after her Senate term ended in 2024, an increase of $1.3 million from what was reported last month.
Sinema's term concluded on January 3, 2025, at which point her campaign account held $4.2 million. By the time she filed her termination report, those funds had been depleted. The expenditures, detailed in FACT's complaint, total $653,555 in staff and payroll, along with costs for air travel, security, lodging, meals, events, credit card payments, bank fees, and office administration.
FACT argues that while federal law permits limited use of campaign funds to close down operations, the scale and nature of these expenses suggest personal use. The complaint states: “the amount alone is significant and suggests it is not related to official duties.” It further notes: “many of the expenses do not appear to have any relation to winding down an office, but rather they appear quite clearly to be for personal purposes, namely makeup services, alcohol, catering and lodging. Thus, there is reason to believe that Kyrsten Sinema and Sinema for Arizona have violated federal law.”
Specific concerns include about $9,000 spent at resorts in Beverly Hills, Montauk, Wyoming ski country, and the Grand Canyon, as well as payments to a security guard with whom Sinema allegedly had a personal relationship. The filing came shortly after announcements of Sinema joining the Washington Reporter as a columnist.
This is not the first such accusation. In 2024, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed a complaint claiming Sinema spent over $100,000 on trips to Italy and Boston between March and September, unrelated to her Senate or campaign duties. The FEC has yet to address that earlier complaint.
If the FEC finds reason to believe a violation occurred, it may impose fines or require repayment of funds. Knowing and willful violations could lead to referral to the Department of Justice for potential criminal charges. Sinema has not yet responded to requests for comment on the allegations.
