The treasurer of House Republicans' campaign arm filed fraudulent financial audits for years 2001 through 2006, according to analysis released by the group's leadership today.

This revelation shows a broader-ranging span of bogus accounting by former National Republican Campaign Committee treasurer Christopher J. Ward, whom investigators say issued a fraudulent report for 2006. Ward's report was sent to Wachovia, the NRCC's primary lender during the 2006 election cycle, and allegedly contained fabricated data.

The report states that over a period of several years starting in 2004, Ward made "several hundred thousand dollars in unauthorized transfers of NRCC funds to outside committees" and subsequent transfers from those committees "to what appear to be his personal and business bank accounts."

When NRCC officials discovered the auditing problems, NRCC Chairman Rep. Tom Cole, Oklahoma Republican, on Jan. 30 hired the law firm Covington & Burling for further investigation. The firm's initial review recommended that the NRCC alert the FBI and the Federal Election Commission.

Today Cole presented the firm's findings before the Republican congressional leadership and the NRCC's executive committee.

"[T]he evidence we have today indicates we have been deceived and betrayed for a number of years by a highly respected and trusted individual," Cole said in a statement. "It is my goal to be open and candid with the facts of this matter and to assure our members, our supporters and our staff at the NRCC that every effort is being made to prevent such a fraudulent act from happening again."

-- Carrie Sheffield, Web editor, The Washington Times