Rep. Tim Murphy (R) spent $27,000 in legal fees for two law firms in the last part of 2007, according to his fourth-quarter campaign fundraising records.

Murphy spent about $17,000 in legal consultations with McGuire Woods LLP in Richmond, Va., and an additional $10,000 for Nixon Peabody in Washington, D.C.

Murphy’s campaign treasurer and spokeswoman, Judith McVerry, would not comment.

“We really have no comment on the expenditures,” McVerry said. “It’s just legal consultants and that’s the description we’ve given to the [Federal Election Commission] and that’s how it stands.”

Murphy’s campaign paid an additional $22,000 to McGuire Woods in the first half of 2007.

According to local news reports, Murphy was being investigated by the FBI following the 2006 elections after former staffers said Murphy allegedly used official staff and resources to do campaign work.

McVerry would not comment on whether the legal charges pertained to that case.

Murphy’s House spokesperson, Mark Carpenter, also would not comment.

Murphy is running for his fourth term in the House after holding onto his seat by healthy margins in all of his campaigns.

However, in his most recent election, Murphy got 58 percent against a little-known and poorly funded Democrat. This cycle a crowded field of Democrats have stepped up to the plate to contest Murphy, though there is no clear frontrunner.
— Shira Toeplitz