Sen. Crapo Lost $250K in Campaign Investment

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo's campaign lost $250,000 on an investment where it says somebody absconded with the cash. Crapo made the announcement Friday.

But he says he learned of the loss in 2010. In a statement, Crapo said he's been trying to figure out how to proceed, including through conversations with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's office. Crapo says he wasn't asked about nor did he approve the loan, though he's signed off on other, federally-protected investments in the past by the campaign to increase its coffers.

The loan was approved in 2008 by ex-Crapo campaign manager Jake Ball, now on U.S. Rep. Raul Labrador's staff, to an Idaho-based company, Blueberry Guru, that's now defunct. Ball didn't return a phone call.