Karoline Leavitt’s 2022 Congressional Campaign Is Still More than $300K in Debt After Spending Illegal Donations

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s 2022 congressional campaign remains more than $300,000 in debt, with no repayments made in the most recent reporting period — despite the campaign having accepted and spent illegal donations.

According to a Federal Election Commission (FEC) filing dated July 6, Leavitt’s campaign, Karoline for Congress, reported owing $326,370.50 and having zero cash on hand as of June 30. The debt is tied to over 100 individual creditors.

The funds in question came from contributions that exceeded legal limits under federal campaign finance law. Rather than returning the excessive or improper donations as required, Leavitt’s campaign reportedly spent the money, according to watchdog group Open Secrets.

Only five donors have received refunds so far this year — two of them being Leavitt’s parents, each repaid $2,900, according to the nonprofit outlet NOTUS.

Notable donors included former New Hampshire Governor Craig Benson and the late state Senate Majority Leader Robert Clegg Jr., who passed away in 2023. Significant financial relationships were also disclosed, including $46,747 owed to the political consulting firm Axiom Strategies, $41,000 to Remington Research Group, and $12,815 to Fundraising, Inc.

Despite the FEC complaint filed in November 2022 by End Citizens United — which accused Leavitt’s campaign of violating campaign finance laws — the commission has not issued a ruling. The FEC currently lacks a full panel of commissioners and cannot act without a quorum, a situation that has stalled numerous enforcement cases.

While the Department of Justice could intervene, such a move is considered highly unlikely, as both Attorney General Pam Bondi and Leavitt serve in senior roles within President Trump’s administration.

Leavitt, a rising conservative figure and a former congressional candidate from New Hampshire, has not publicly addressed the campaign debt or the status of the illegal contributions since entering the White House in 2025.