AP: Guinta "Has Declined to Release Any Bank Records"

by: Dean Barker

Mon Oct 25, 2010 at 21:47:50 PM EDT

Shea-Porter, who has been relentless in raising questions about how Guinta was able to loan his campaign $355,000, responded by once again arguing that Guinta's explanations don't add up.

Guinta amended a financial disclosure form in June to add a previously unreported bank account holding between $250,000 and $500,000. He has declined to release any bank records to prove the account existed before then and has said he and his wife earned the money by working in the private sector "for approximately 20 years." Guinta, 40, was 35 when he was elected to the first of his two terms as mayor in 2005.

And the Nashua Telegraph:

Guinta quickly amended the report to include the account, between $250,000 and $500,000. But Shea-Porter has continued to push the matter throughout the campaign, questioning the source of the funds and challenging him to release his bank records.

Guinta declined to do so once again during the debate.

The sharpest exchanges took place as Shea-Porter urged Guinta to disclose his bank statements to explain the source of a $245,000 loan that Guinta made to his campaign. Guinta has said he forgot to disclose the account and subsequently amended his disclosure forms.

Guinta says it is his money, but he has not yielded to Shea-Porter's requests for bank records for the account.