As watchdog files complaint, US vice-presidential candidate says men in her position would not face same scrutiny

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In a complaint filed to the US federal election commission, the group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (Crew) argued that Republicans violated campaign finance rules when they spent $150,000 (£96,000) on clothes for Palin and her family.

The purchases came from a joint account, controlled by both national Republicans and John McCain's campaign. At issue is whether the "personal use" ban on buying clothes with campaign money - a reform promoted by McCain himself - applies to such joint accounts.