Middletown, Delaware (CNN) -- Delaware GOP Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell, in comments exclusive to CNN, refused to answer specific questions Monday night about allegations she misused funds from her previous campaign and tried to downplay their significance.

On the allegations she said there's "no truth to it."

She spoke to CNN after a candidates' forum. She asked, "Why are you listening to a liberal organization in the first place?" -- referring to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a nonpartisan campaign watchdog group that filed a complaint Monday against the O'Donnell campaign.

Seeking to change the subject, she said "the momentum surrounding this campaign is obvious."

"I am positive we have been ethical," she said before walking off. "I personally have not misused campaign funds."

The campaign has hired a lawyer -- an expert in campaign finance -- to answer those charges "if it goes anywhere," O'Donnell said.

On the allegation that she used about $20,000 in funds for non-campaign purposes she said, "No truth to it....no truth to it."

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed complaints with the Delaware U.S. Attorney's Office and the Federal Election Commission against O'Donnell, charging that more than $20,000 of O'Donnell's spending in 2009 and 2010 was illegal because O'Donnell was no longer a candidate.