Rep. Waldholtz to File FEC Complaint Against Spouse

In the latest salvo against her estranged husband, Rep. Enid Greene Waldholtz of Utah has told the Federal Election Commission she will file a complaint alleging that he mixed campaign and personal funds and may have embezzled from her campaigns.

The first-term Republican congresswoman, whose campaign finances are under criminal investigation, has publicly accused Joseph Waldholtz of stealing money from her campaigns and lying to her about it.

The planned complaint, disclosed in a letter to the FEC, was the latest turn in a saga that began in November when Joseph Waldholtz vanished for six days and then turned himself in to federal authorities who were seeking him on a material-witness arrest warrant. Since then, Enid Waldholtz has testified three times before a federal grand jury investigating allegations that her husband engaged in a $1.7-million check-kiting scheme and lied to the election commission.

In the letter, one of Enid Waldholtz’s attorneys notified the FEC that the complaint would be submitted in about a week along with revised financial reports for her 1994 and 1996 campaigns. The reports filed previously by Joseph Waldholtz, who had been campaign treasurer, contained inaccurate information, attorney Michael Chanin wrote.

“In addition, there is substantial evidence of commingling of personal and campaign funds, including possible embezzlement, by Mr. Waldholtz,” Chanin said in the letter to FEC report analyst Ginger Campbell.

“Furthermore, there is substantial evidence of improper reporting of contributions, reporting of contributions that were not received, and other numerous reporting violations by Mr. Waldholtz,” he wrote.

One of Joseph Waldholtz’s attorneys, Jeffrey Liebmann, said Friday he wouldn’t comment until the complaint was filed and he could read it.

Joseph Waldholtz, 32, has not decided whether to testify about the couple’s finances to the grand jury. He has been talking with prosecutors about a possible deal in which he would provide information about his wife’s role in their financial dealings.

Enid Waldholtz faces a filing deadline of March 18 to decide whether she will seek reelection. Two of her former aides are considering running for her seat.