Federal Election Commission lawyers urged a federal judge not to heed U.S. Sen. Larry Craig's contention that regulators are being too hard on him and force him to pay nearly $360,000 in fines and restitution for tapping campaign accounts for his legal defense following his 2007 arrest in an airport bathroom sex sting.
The FEC says the Idaho Republican ignored the U.S. Senate's own warnings not to spend the money.
This battle has gone on more than a year, as the commission seeks to force Craig to repay his campaign.
Craig, meanwhile, contends the proposed penalties are "harsh, unjustified remedies," that he's not financially able to cover the total — and he acted in good faith, having genuinely thought using the money was appropriate.
The FEC announced its filing Friday.