Underwood questions San Nicolas' campaign finances

New questions have been raised over Delegate Michael San Nicolas' campaign finances. Democratic rival and former congressman Dr. Robert Underwood says a review of recent filings with the Federal Election Commission shows a big discrepancy that San Nicolas needs to explain.

"I think there's been a whole pattern of mistakes that have been made and I can't help but think that they're a pattern of deception," Underwood told KUAM News. "Mike San Nicolas is trying to say that these are a matter of staff errors but in point of fact they have led to a ramping up of his investigation."

San Nicolas is currently the subject of a House ethics investigation for his campaign finances. Underwood says in San Nicolas' April 15, 2020 first quarter filing he reported he had almost $54,000 in cash on hand in his campaign account. On June 21 he filed an amendment restating he only had about $12,000 with no explanation or additional details about the missing money or reduction of almost $42,000.

Underwood says he's filed many such reports during his ten-year term in office, to explain it away as staff errors is not plausible, adding, "It's very clear what you're supposed to do. The amount of money you can take. In fact in February he had to give back $9,000 to a Guam businessman. It's ridiculous. That is not a mistake."

"It's not staff error," Underwood also said. "It's a pattern of deception and he needs to own up to it. And this is why, people who give money to a candidate. And this is really important, the first measure of trust that you have for someone running for office is they ask you for money. What they do with that money is a good reflection of how they behave in office."

We reached out to Delegate San Nicolas' office for a statement, but did not get a response as of newstime.