The first man out the gate in the 2016 race for the White House is already facing scrutiny over payments his PAC made to his wife and daughter . A political action committee headed by Former Sen. Jim Webb , the Democrat who launched a presidential exploratory committee last month , has paid more than $ 90,000 to his wife and daughter since late 2006 -- with close to half of that amount doled out in 2014 alone , according to FEC filings . The information was first reported by Business Insider . A Webb spokesperson defended the expenses in an email to CNN , explaining that payments to Webb 's wife and daughter increased in 2014 to a total of $ 37,000 to revamp Webb 's personal website and create his 2016 exploratory committee page before he announced his plans to fundraise for a prospective presidential bid . `` Adding up numbers across several years for a sensational headline does n't tell the story , '' the spokesperson said . `` The activities of the PAC increased in 2014 when Jim Webb decided to re-enter the political discussions of our country . '' The spokesperson added that the payments were `` well within the law '' and `` much lower '' than typical compensation . Webb 's daughter , Amy Webb Hogan , drew most of the disbursements , charging her father 's PAC $ 24,000 in 2014 alone for `` administrative consulting services , '' which included administering , managing and designing the PAC 's website , Sen. Webb 's personal site and creating the Webb2016 website . Webb Hogan is the CEO of Webbmedia Group , a digital strategy firm based in Baltimore , though the payments from the PAC went directly to her . Sen. Webb 's wife , Hong Le Webb , made $ 13,800 in 2014 for `` website services , '' which included `` vetting design consultants , negotiating contracts and content management , '' Webb 's spokesperson said . She also received more than $ 1,000 in travel reimbursements from the PAC . Sen. Webb was also reimbursed $ 4,100 in travel expenses tied to an August 2014 trip to Iowa to campaign for candidates and meet prospective key supporters in the key primary state . The PAC has not spent any of its funds on donations to political candidates or groups since Oct. 2010 , though it has continued to receive donations from supporters , according to FEC filings . And the payments to Webb 's family amount to nearly 10 % of all contributions the PAC received and only about 20 % of donations to the PAC went to political candidates or groups , Business Insider reported . The Born Fighting PAC continues to accept donations online and the website now also links to Sen. Webb 's 2016 exploratory committee website . Webb , a Marine Corps veteran , touted his bipartisan credentials and his military ties in a 14-minute video he posted last month announcing his intention to form an exploratory committee for 2016 , which allows him to raise funds for a potential run and is typically the first step to formally announcing a presidential bid . If he does , Webb will likely face former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the Democrats ' primary process . Clinton is expected to announce a presidential bid next year .
Webb spokesperson explains 2014 . Webb 's PAC has paid his wife and daughter more than $ 90,000 , including about $ 37,000 in 2014 alone . Webb 's spokesperson said in a statement the payments were `` well within the law '' but not for personal use or to benefit family members '.