The conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch, which made a name for itself probing former President Bill Clinton, filed an ethics complaint Monday against Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.). [IMGCAP(1)]

Judicial Watch wants the Senate Ethics Committee to investigate an August 2000 Los Angeles gala for Clinton’s first Senate race. David Rosen, a former Clinton aide, is facing federal charges that he underreported the cost of the event. Rosen’s trial is slated to start today. The Senator has not been charged in the case.

Judicial Watch alleges that Clinton knew the event cost far more than the $400,000 that Rosen officially reported. Convicted felon Peter Paul has claimed that he gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to Clinton’s Senate campaign that were never reported. Paul pleaded guilty to securities fraud two months ago. Judicial Watch assisted Paul in his defense.

The complaint is “a worthless publicity stunt by a thoroughly discredited right-wing attack group,” said Clinton adviser Howard Wolfson.

— John Bresnahan