WASHINGTON _ New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's presidential campaign died in New Hampshire in February 2016, but the political account that paid for it has lived on until this week because of lingering debts.
A report filed Friday with the Federal Election Commission shows that Christie collected $33,500 from contributors in June and used $23,000 of it to pay Gibbons PC, a law firm that was the final unpaid creditor.
The payment represents about half of what Gibbons is owed, and was in line with a debt settlement plan the campaign filed through with the FEC through which vendors, including a pollster and a charter jet company, agreed to write off part of what they were owed.
Last July, Christie's campaign had about $40,000 in cash and $262,000 in debts. The report filed Friday shows a final cash balance of $363 after $8.6 million was raised and $8.7 million was spent.
"Today, the treasurer of Chris Christie for President is filing with the FEC the necessary papers to close the presidential campaign. All debts are paid and the accounts are closed," said Bill Palatucci, a Christie adviser and special counsel at Gibbons PC.
The debt settlement plan still must be approved by the Federal Election Commission.
Among the contributions to Christie last month was $1,000 from Thomas Scrivo, managing partner of O'Toole Scrivo, the Cedar Grove law firm from which Christie this week tapped his new chief counsel, James DiGiulio.
It's not unusual for presidential campaign committees to remain in existence for years after the candidates dropped out. Other unsuccessful candidates for the Republican nomination in 2016 filing reports this week included Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, whose campaign has $41,000 in debts, and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, whose campaign has $491,000 in debt. Santorum also owes $456,000 from his unsuccessful 2012 campaign.
