The Federal Election Commission has ruled that former GOP Rep. Jim Kolbe (AZ) can spend his leftover campaign funds to pay his lawyers.

Kolbe has faced inquiries from Congress and federal prosecutors over separate but related flaps: first, a 1996 camping trip he took with two teenaged former House pages, several staffers and his sister; and second, how he learned of inappropriate communications between disgraced former Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL) and former pages, and how he responded to the discovery.

The FEC allows a current or former lawmaker to use funds raised for campaign expenses to pay for legal defense costs if the need arises in the course of a lawmaker's official duties.