NJ Democrats Fined for Alleged Campaign Violations

New Jersey's Democratic Party has been fined for allegedly violating campaign finance rules.

The Star-Ledger of Newark reports that the party has been fined more than $42,000 for making in-kind contributions to former Gov. Jon Corzine's 2009 re-election campaign.

The executive director of the Election Law Enforcement Commission tells the newspaper that a political party is not allowed to spend money on behalf of a gubernatorial candidate in a general election without setting up a separate account that is subject to contribution limits.

Party officials have agreed to pay the penalty but have admitted no wrongdoing. The fine is the 9th largest in ELEC's history.

ELEC officials say a total of $227,120 in expenses were spent by the Democratic Party on an automated phone call in Republican areas.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)