Report: Democrat senator used over $60,000 in campaign funds to pay for 'childcare' – including an $11,000 payment to himself

 Georgia Democrat Senator Raphael Warnock's campaign funneled over $60,000 in donor campaign funds to pay for items listed as "childcare," according to Federal Election Commission filings.

Senator Warnock's campaign, Warnock for Georgia, diverted $61,959.40 from 2020 to 2022 to cover expenses related to "childcare."

Of the 33 listed payments, only one of those was described as "childcare expenses (campaign related)," and the remainder were listed as only "childcare."

The majority of the payments went to specific providers and nannies; however, one payment – the largest single disbursement totaling $11,847.40 – went directly to Senator Warnock for "childcare reimbursement."

Candidates are allowed to use campaign funds for childcare expenses "that are incurred as a direct result of campaign activities," according to FEC regulations. Typically, those instances refer to single payments for specific events.

FEC regulations state that donor campaign funds cannot be used to pay for "any expense that would exist irrespective of their candidacy or duties as a federal officeholder." 

According to the Daily Wire, Warnock appeared to be using campaign funds to manage most of his childcare expenses, including those incurred outside the campaign trail.

Senator Warnock did not immediately reply to a request for comment from TheBlaze.

A July article by OpenSecrets reported how much campaign money federal candidates have used on childcare services during the 2022 election as of March. FEC filings revealed that candidate Tamika Hamilton (R), running for California's sixth congressional district, used over $36,000 in campaign funds for childcare expenses. California Representative Eric Swalwell (D) also made the top of the list for using over $35,000 in campaign funds for childcare. 

Hamilton told OpenSecrets that she received criticism for using donor funds to cover childcare expenses.

"I can't imagine how many people are missing out on good leadership simply because they can't afford it," Hamilton stated.

The FEC held an open meeting in July to consider new regulations regarding campaign money after Swalwell requested if funds could be used for childcare expenses when campaigning or traveling overnight. The FEC concluded that the funds could be used for childcare if the expenses were incurred as a result of being on the campaign trail.