GOP lawmaker refuses to pay off campaign bills after running as a fiscal conservative

Former Rep. Robert Pittenger (R-NC), who portrayed himself as a champion of fiscal discipline during his tenure in Congress, has put his campaign creditors on notice that they will not get another penny from him.

According to NOTUS, the former lawmaker who lost his re-election bid in 2018, has filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission indicating it will pay zero dollars on approximately $726,000 in outstanding debts.

The report notes the debt repayment plan Pittenger submitted shows precisely "zero plans" for actual repayment. Every line item for proposed creditor payments is blank or marked "$0." The financial statement confirms the campaign committee has exhausted its funds, with no money left in the bank.

According to the report, Pittenger spent his congressional career championing debt reduction and co-authoring legislation focused on bringing down the national deficit while serving on the House Financial Services Committee.

The committee owes money to 24 different vendors and service providers. The largest single debt—$591,700—is to Pittenger himself, a loan he conveniently forgave using his personal funds rather than paying it from campaign proceeds.

Neither Pittenger nor his campaign treasurer responded to inquiries about the matter, choosing silence over accountability.

Pittenger joins a notable roster of political figures who have abandoned campaign debts: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, former presidential candidates Al Sharpton, Newt Gingrich, and Rick Santorum have all left creditors unpaid, Christa Dutton NOTUS also reported.