Thad Cochran's campaign says it "screwed up" cash accounting

The Gotnews.com site Monday night reported that the Cochran campaign reimbursed staffer Amanda Shook for large sums of cash listed as “Reimbursed Expense – Campaign Walkers.” FEC regulations allow reimbursement to staff only for travel and food expenses, and any other outlay of money by a staffer would be considered a contribution, and subject to a $2,600 limit.

A spokesman for six-term incumbent Cochran called the filing “a screw up,” and the campaign has denied vote buying and other allegations…

Some of the reimbursements listed for Cochran Operations Director Shook through June 3 are large, including payments of $8,000, $10,000 and $15,000.

Cochran campaign adviser Austin Barbour says the filings were a mistake by the campaign’s treasurer. He said they should be listed as cash payments to “dozens” of people who helped knock on doors and with other GOTV work.