Former campaign treasurer admits to embezzlement

COLUMBUS (AP) -- A former Republican campaign treasurer admitted that she embezzled more than $221,000 from eight candidates and a political action committee.
Susan Kyte, 47, pleaded guilty Friday to 19 counts, which included charges of money laundering, election falsification, theft and filing false income tax returns.
Kyte, who was indicted in August, is free on bail until her sentencing Jan. 7 in Franklin County Common Pleas Court. She could be sentenced to 30 years in prison and ordered to pay restitution, prosecutor Ron O'Brien said.
Defense attorney Michael Miller said he did not know why Kyte wrote 119 checks to herself from the accounts of people she worked for.
O'Brien said a review of bank records indicated Kyte likely used the money for living expenses.
"There's no evidence of anything which might be typical uses of embezzled money," he said. "No evidence of an extravagant lifestyle or vices."
Kyte embezzled $66,000 from the campaign of state Sen. Robert Gardner of Madison, $46,999 from state Rep. Linda Reidelbach of Columbus and $38,900 from former state Rep. Amy Salerno of Columbus, authorities said.