Sen. Harry Reid — under pressure from the Federal Election Commission — revealed that he gave about $17,000 in campaign cash to his granddaughter in two separate payments that were recorded in his books as “holiday gifts.”

Shortly after the payments came to light, Mr. Reid also announced he was refunding the money, The New York Post reported.

The checks were cut in amounts of $5,417 and $11,370 and given to his granddaughter last October, the media outlet said. On paper, they were listed as amounts to a person named “Ryan Elisabeth.” It was later learned that the recipient was actually Ryan Elisabeth Reid, 23, who’s the daughter of Mr. Reid’s son, Rory, the New York Post said.

A journalist from Las Vegas actually contacted Mr. Reid’s office to ask about the “Ryan Elisabeth” payments and was told that the individual was a campaign vendor — but was not told that she was Mr. Reid’s granddaughter, the New York Post said. Mr. Reid’s office than said that the checks were actually for purchases from “Ryan Elisabeth’s” jewelry shop to give out to donors of Mr. Reid’s campaign.

The full truth of the matter came to light when the FEC contacted Mr. Reid’s campaign and reminded that all disbursements “must include a brief statement or description” and that failure to do so could “result in an audit or enforcement action,” the New York Post reported.

Mr. Reid said on Wednesday that “we complied with all the rules,” the New York Post reported. But at the same time, he said he was going to reimburse the money to his campaign.

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