(Photo credit: Hutchinson Post)
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Federal Election Commission has fined the Kansas Republican Party $6,500 for violating campaign finance law. The FEC concluded that the Kansas GOP incorrectly reported receipts, disbursements and cash totals during the 2007-2008 election cycle. The commission also found that many documents submitted to the FEC during the period overstated the amount of money the state party organization had. Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach chaired the state party at the time. Kobach told The Topeka Capital-Journal the fine was "relatively small" and that he believes the flawed accounting was unintentional. The FEC issued the fine in February but didn't release details until Tuesday at the newspaper's request. Clay Barker, executive director of the Kansas GOP, says the organization was "very pleased" with the settlement.