The New York Republican State Committee is asking the Federal Elections Commission to investigate Democratic NY-21 candidate Paula Collins for potential campaign finance law violations, alleging that she may have used campaign funds to pay her rent.

Collins bought property in Petersburg a while ago. This property is currently in the NY-21 district, but will be excised from the boundary in 2025, when a state redistricting takes effect. So she started renting a monthly efficiency apartment at the Amish Country Inn in Canton. The inn, which pivoted to longer-term rentals during the coronavirus pandemic, is owned by White Pillars Lodging.

FEC data shows Collins’ campaign has paid $1,350 to White Pillars three times this year for “rent” and “office rent” in February, March and May — a total of $4,050. Collins previously told the Enterprise she is renting an efficiency apartment there in Canton.

Collins, a Democrat running against incumbent North Country Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, said she believes the FEC will rule that this is allowed and alleged the NYRSC’s complaint to the FEC may have been illegally released to the press.

Collins said she did not know about the complaint until the New York Post called her for an article, 10 days before the FEC notified her. She points to a part of the law that says no FEC action may be made public by the FEC without the written consent of the respondent and the FEC.

“What was their motivation for running to the press before I even got notification of it?” Collins asked of the GOP committee. “It’s rather poor form, in my opinion. … It’s weaponization of yet another process.”

“She has admitted that she ‘lives’ there which itself is a federal crime,” Stefanik Senior Advisor Alex Degrasse told the Enterprise.

The FEC’s website states that “The campaign may not pay for mortgage, rent or utilities for the personal residence of the candidate or the candidate’s family even if part of the residence is being used by the campaign.”

The NYRSC filed an official complaint with the FEC on July 5, calling for an investigation and the “maximum penalty.” Collins said this is a “distraction” and that there are a lot of other options before fines are considered. She said she is obtaining legal counsel and challenging the complaint to the FEC. The FEC can consider permissible operating expenses on a case-by-case basis, she said.

“Filings such as this do not promote confidence and participation the democratic process,” Collins said. “In fact, I would say they erode confidence and participation the democratic process.”

Collins said the GOP committee doesn’t understand the lack of viable housing in the district. She said “doubling up” and using donor dollars for two purposes at once is a good use of small-dollar donations. She has “peanuts” in comparison to Stefanik’s campaign finances and said she’s working to stretch her dollars. Collins also points out that candidates can draw a salary from the campaign and that she has not.

Collins has lived in New York City in the past and still works out of her legal office there and resides there part-time. She said campaign workers work out of her NYC offices, and she does not charge the campaign for the use of that space.

Stefanik has also not lived in the district since the 2022 redistricting. Her home in Schuylerville was just barely excised from the district then. The new lines in 2025 will put her home back inside NY-21. Congress members are not required to live in their district, just the same state.

Collins is a cannabis attorney by trade.

Independent Scott Lewis is also currently attempting to sue NY-21 political committee leaders and the state Board of Elections in a bid to get on the ballot after his petition was initially denied.

FEC data shows Collins’ campaign had raised just under $50,000 by the start of last month, as well as around $11,000 in a loan from herself.

The data shows she had spent around $50,000 of that total $61,000 and had approximately $6,800 cash on hand at the start of June.

FEC data shows Stefanik’s campaign had raised around $9.8 million by the start of last month. The data shows she had spent around $4.3 million of that and had approximately $5.65 million cash on hand at the start of June.