DeVos previously ran All Children Matter, a school-choice PAC that ran afoul of Ohio election laws. The PAC was fined more than $5.3 million by the Ohio Elections Commission after it contributed $870,000 to its Ohio affiliate, even after the commission warned in an advisory opinion that any contribution over $10,000 would break the law.

"If confirmed as Secretary of Education, you would be responsible for administering our nation’s student loan programs and ensuring that borrowers repay their loans in a timely manner," the senators wrote. "However, the PAC that you chaired failed to pay fines that were imposed on it over eight years ago."

They argued that the move "demonstrates a serious lack of judgment by the PAC’s board and a willingness to avoid paying legally obligated public debts."

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They want the fine repaid before DeVos's confirmation hearing before the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which is responsible for kicking off her nomination.

The Democrats added in their letter that the "blatant disregard for the law that your PAC demonstrated is deeply troubling."

"However, when the organization’s violations of law were punished by the Ohio Elections Commission, the PAC’s refusal to take responsibility and pay the fines is unconscionable," they wrote.