Former GOP treasurer under investigation

WASHINGTON, March 7 (UPI) -- The FBI has begun an investigation of the longtime treasurer of the House Republican campaign committee, The Washington Post reported Friday.

An official close to the committee told the Post an examination of its finances has found differences "between what we have and what we should have."

"We don't know if it's a big number or a small number," the official said. "It looks like something was stolen. But we don't have an accurate number. We don't know."

Christopher Ward was dismissed in January after Republican leaders discovered the committee had not had an independent audit since 2003. Ward, a longtime Republican operative, has served as treasurer for many other campaign and political action committees.

Ward was treasurer of the National Republican Campaign Committee from 2003 to September 2007 and then worked as a contractor for the committee.

Sources told the Post some lawmakers believe money is also missing from their campaign war chests.