WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus spent more of his campaign money paying lawyers than buying television advertising in the closing days of the March 13 Republican primary, according to new Federal Election Commission reports.

Bachus, who soundly defeated three challengers from his own party, is cooperating with an investigation by the Office of Congressional Ethics on whether he engaged in insider trading.

His final post-primary campaign finance report, which covers Feb. 23 to March 31, shows two payments to the Gibson Dunn law firm for a total of $250,000.

During that same period, Bachus' campaign spent $228,354 on producing and airing campaign commercials.

Bachus is running for an 11th term in the U.S. House representing Alabama's 6th Congressional District which includes parts of Jefferson and Blount counties, plus Shelby, Chilton, Coosa and Bibb counties. He faces Democrat Penny Bailey from Leeds in November.

Bachus has denied that he used private information from his official duties in Congress to influence his personal investing decisions. But a book and national news report in November alleged otherwise, and soon after, the independent Office of Congressional Ethics asked him for more information. The OCE does not disclose such preliminary investigations unless it decides to recommend further action by the House Ethics Committee, but Bachus confirmed the inquiry just before it was disclosed by The Washington Post in February.

Bachus is awaiting the outcome of the OCE review.

He formed a legal defense fund in February, but "it has taken time ensure that the legal trust fund is in working order and in full compliance," his spokesman, Tim Johnson said.

The campaign finance reports show Bachus raised a half-million dollars in those final weeks and spent $637,000. Since his last election in 2010, Bachus raised $2.1 million and spent $1.9 million. His campaign account ended March with $513,000 on hand.

His next closest challenger was state Sen. Scott Beason, R-Gardendale, who raised $81,000 in his attempt to defeat Bachus in the primary. He ended March with $8,100 in his account and no debt.

Since January, Bailey has raised $10,200 and has $5,200 on hand as of the end of March.

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