By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com
The ex-treasurer for the National Republican Congressional Committee pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court in Washington to embezzling about $850,000 in funds, authorities said.
Christopher J. Ward, 41, formerly of Bethesda, Md.,pleaded guilty to stealing funds from the NRCC and other political committees, which were clients of his accounting and consulting business, authorities said. Sentencing is set for Dec. 2.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein and FBI Assistant Director in Charge of the Washington Field Office Shawn Henry.
“Christopher J. Ward was trusted to oversee other people’s money, and he violated that trust by diverting nearly $850,000 into his own pocket and creating fraudulent documentation to conceal the theft,” U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein of Baltimore, whose office was assigned to the case in Washington, said in a statement.
“Mr. Ward then caused false reports to be filed with the Federal Election Commission concerning the expenditure of the political contributions.”
“Mr. Ward claimed to operate an accounting business that helped clients comply with federal election laws, while he was filing false documents with the Federal Election Commission to hide the fact that he was stealing money,” Assistant Director Shawn Henry of the Washington FBI field office said in a statement. “The FBI has a responsibility to investigate and uncover fraudulent financial reporting related to federal elections in order to protect the public’s confidence in democracy and the election process.”
