Since leaving office in April, Former Rep. Blake Farenthold has used a substantial amount of his leftover campaign money on legal expenses.An analysis of Farenthold’s Federal Election Commission report by the Houston Chronicle found the Texas congressman spent more than $100,000 in legal fees. Farenthold’s campaign finance report showed he spent $20,000 on legal fees to Los Angeles-based firm Bird Marella Boxer Wolpert Nessim Drook and additional $20,000 went to Berke Farah LLP.In previous quarters, Farenthold spent $60,609 on lawyers, making the total amount of money he spent on legal fees more than $100,000.Farenthold resigned in April after Politico reported his office used $84,000 in taxpayer dollars to settle a sexual harassment case against a former staffer. Since then, he spent $41,000, leaving his campaign account with $3,300 at the end of the most recent fundraising quarter. He reported $54,246 in cash on hand at the end of the first quarter of this year, which spanned from January 1 to March 31.Farenthold also spent spent $800 as a deposit to stay at a luxury resort outside Sarasota, Florida. On June 22, after he already resigned, Farenthold also used $860 for a cocktail party in Potomac, Maryland.This comes despite the fact the FEC prohibits spending campaign money for personal use.Initially, Farenthold pledged to deliver a check to House Speaker Paul D. Ryan. But Farenthold since said his lawyers advised him against paying back the money.Farenthold was succeeded by Rep. Mike Cloud, who won a special election. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott wanted Farenthold to foot the bill for the special election but Farenthold refused.Farenthold now works as a lobbyist for the Calhoun Port Authority.The Victoria Advocate newspaper sued the Calhoun Port Authority because it said the authority violated Texas’ Open Meetings Act for hiring Farenthold behind closed doors.Watch: Farenthold Resigns from Congress[jwp-video n="1"]
