A freshman Congressman has paid a $31,000 fine for a campaign finance disclosure violation in his first federal election. But the fine was a relatively small amount for the 13th richest member of Congress.  

The campaign committee of Rep. Robert Pittenger , R-N.C., failed to file a 48-hour contribution notice prior to his May 8th primary election in 2012. The pre-election notice would have disclosed Pittenger’s own $309,000 contribution to his campaign on April 26, 2012. Pittenger failed to win the primary outright, but ranked first with 32% of the vote in the eleven-candidate field. In the July 12th primary run-off, Pittenger beat former Mecklenburg County sheriff James Pendergraph.  

The Federal Election Commission required the Pittenger for Congress LLC to pay a $31,010 civil penalty, which included $110 for one notice not filed, plus 10% of the overall contributions not filed. The fine was paid on February 21, 2013.  

During the 2011-2012 cycle, the Pittenger campaign had receipts of $3.3  million. Pittenger contributed $1,680,735 to his campaign, and loaned his campaign $644,000. The committee reported it had $107,817 cash on hand as of the end of 2013. View his financial profile .  

In the 2012 general election, Pittenger defeated Jennifer Roberts, D-N.C., to succeed Rep. Sue Myrick, R-N.C., who retired.  

Prior to his election Pittenger was chairman of the Robert Pittenger Company, a real estate investment company in Charlotte, North Carolina.  

Pittenger sits on the House Financial Services Committee.  

Correction: The fine was paid on February 21, 2013.