U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta says he will continue to serve his New Hampshire constituents amid a suggestion by fellow Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte that he consider resigning after the Federal Election Commission concluded he broke the law by accepting campaign donations from his parents.
In 2010, Guinta reported lending himself $355,000 and amended a disclosure form to add a previously unreported bank account. Over the years, he flatly denied the money came from his parents or that it was an illegal campaign donation. The FEC said the opposite in a recent agreement and ordered Guinta to pay a fine.
Ayotte said Monday Guinta's explanation is inconsistent with the FEC's findings, and that if she were him, she'd resign.
"Congressman Guinta must make his own decision about whether to resign, but if I were in his position, that's what I would do," the senator said in a statement.
Guinta said he share's Ayotte's disappointment with the issue, but he's been proactive in showing documentation proving the assets were his.
Guinta first won his seat in 2010 by defeating incumbent Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-N.H.), but two years later, he lost his seat to Shea-Porter. In 2014, the seat flipped again to Guinta.
