The Campaign Legal Center has filed an ethics complaint against Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th, claiming he violated U.S. House rules against the personal use of campaign funds.

CLC, a nonprofit campaign finance watchdog, alleges in a six-page letter sent to the Office of Congressional Ethics in early October that Kelly used funds from his leadership political action committee — or PAC — for his personal use in violation of House ethics rules.

“Based on Rep. Kelly's remarkably small leadership PAC expenses on political contributions and significant amount spent on luxury travel, dining, event tickets and gifts, the Office of Congressional Ethics should require him to verify that he has complied with House rules,” the complaint states.

Melanie Brewer, Kelly's campaign manager, disputed CLC's characterization of the expenses, saying they are perfectly acceptable under U.S. House rules.

“Lawmakers from both parties hold destination fundraisers each year. Rep. Kelly's trip was held in that manner,” Brewer wrote in a statement. “While some candidates, campaigns and political organizations have the luxury of large personal investments, Mike does not. These trips are fundraisers, and we are evaluating all fundraising options moving forward to increase return on investment.”

Kelly was one of three House members complained of by the CLC to the ethics office on Oct. 6. The other representatives were both Democrats — Reps. Gwen Moore of Wisconsin and Seth Moulton of Massachusetts.

Leadership PACs, such as Kelly's Keep America Rolling PAC, are intended to raise and spend funds in support of other members of Congress running in competitive races. But, CLC claims, the Butler-area representative didn't use his funds for that purpose.

“Only 22% of the roughly $205,000 spent by Rep. Kelly's leadership PAC during this period (from 2019 to 2020) went toward other candidates and political parties and groups,” the complaint states.

A review of Federal Election Commission filings made on behalf of Keep America Rolling corroborates CLC's claims.

During the 2019-20 campaign cycle, Keep America Rolling contributed $27,000 to 14 political committees, for instance. CLC claims the PAC used the other funds on travel, dining, event tickets and gifts, which it claims are in violation of House ethics rules.

The complaint claims — and FEC filings verify — Kelly spent more than $75,000 at a five-star hotel in Utah. Two expenses — one a $70.40 expense on Feb. 4, 2020, and another a $20 expense on Feb. 5, 2020 — had three question marks as a description.

Much of the funds spent in Utah are marked as fundraising-associated expenses, but CLC disputes even that.

“Although the leadership PAC labels certain expenses for meals as 'fundraising,' the PAC's records do not include significant contributions received near the time of the events to support that these are large fundraisers,” the complaint states.

Kelly's PAC also expended tens of thousands of dollars on travel at Georgia, Las Vegas and Palm Beach resorts, according to the letter and verified with FEC filings, as well as nearly $20,000 on airfare, service charges and “additional services.”