WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) - A federal judge is hoping court-ordered mediation can resolve a penalty dispute in a Federal Election Commission lawsuit against former Republican Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell.
The judge on Monday referred the case to a magistrate judge to explore alternative dispute resolution. He also ordered attorneys to submit written arguments on the amount of fines and penalties he should impose based on the current case record.
FEC attorneys wrote last week that O'Donnell's lawyers had withdrawn a settlement offer under which she and her campaign committee would have paid a $10,000 penalty for violating campaign finance laws. The FEC has asked for a $25,000 penalty.
The judge ruled last month that O'Donnell improperly used campaign contributions to pay bills at a Delaware townhouse that also served as her 2010 campaign headquarters.
