Rep. Guinta allegations create rupture in the New Hampshire GOP

The campaign finance woes of embattled New Hampshire Republican Rep. Frank Guinta are tearing apart the state’s GOP leadership, with one top official resigning after the state party chairman accused the lawmaker of betraying the public trust.

State GOP Chairwoman Jennifer Horn told the party’s executive committee in a letter obtained by WMUR-9 in Manchester that she “contacted Congressman Guinta to inform him that he has lost my trust and I believe that his actions are beneath the conduct of the office.”

{mosads}“It is clear that [Guinta’s] credibility has been irreparably damaged,” she wrote, according to WMUR. “I hope that Frank can recognize this and act accordingly.”

But that letter came over the “strenuous objections” of Vice Chairman Bryan Gould, who told WMUR that he resigned because of it.

“It is not fair, objective or accurate,” he said. “I have resigned as Vice Chairman of the party this afternoon as a result.”

Guinta praised Gould in a statement to the network, reiterating his intention to continue to serve.

“GOP vice chairman Gould’s statement is reflective of many comments we have received from people during this time,” he said.

“My family and I are deeply touched by the notes of support and calls of encouragement. I am committed to my job and the legislative responsibilities serving the good people of New Hampshire.”

The Federal Election Commission found that Guinta violated disclosure and fundraising laws by accepting more than $350,000 in checks from his parents that he later used as loans to his campaign. Guinta has maintained that the money was his all along, and he only signed an agreement with the FEC to return the money and pay a fine in order to move past the controversy.

New testimony from Guinta’s parents released this week in FEC documents cast doubt on those assertions. His mother told investigators that her and her husband “decided $1 million of wealth would be available to each of their three children,” and that she believed the “loan” would be repaid.

That testimony, investigators wrote, is “inconsistent” with Guinta’s assertion that he had an “equitable right to dispose of the funds as he wished.”

Guinta’s lawyer, Cleta Mitchell, told The Hill in a statement, “Mrs. Guinta used the word ‘loan,’ not because these were not his funds, but because she knew that the Congressman always intended to repay this loan in full.”

Sen. Kelly Ayotte, the state’s Republican senator, has repeatedly called for Guinta to resign.