In a unanimous vote, Federal Election Commissioners have given U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky the green light to use his campaign funds to pay for legal fees associated with a federal investigation into his former top fundraiser.

The agency's six commissioners voted Thursday to allow Visclosky's re-election committee to use campaign funds to pay fees "incurred ... in connection with a federal investigation into the alleged provision of illegal campaign contributions by the PMA Group and its clients ... and Representative Visclosky's allegedly improper earmarking of appropriations for clients of PMA."

The FBI conducted a raid on the now-defunct Virginia-based lobbying firm in November. The firm was long Visclosky's top source of campaign contributions.

Thursday's vote ratified a preliminary approval the FEC gave in a draft advisory opinion last week.

Visclosky campaign spokesman David St. John did not immediately respond a Times request for comment Friday morning. St. John initially declined to comment on the FEC's draft approval last week.

Visclosky has not been charged with any crime related to the federal PMA probe, but he acknowledged that his office, campaign and some staff have been subpoenaed in the inquiry.

The federal investigation has thrust Visclosky and other powerful members of the House's Appropriations Committee into a heated debate over supposed pay-to-play politics.

According to the FEC draft ruling, news reports suggest the federal case is focusing on more than $500,000 in alleged campaign donations from PMA and its clients to three congressmen, including Visclosky.

Because many of the investigation's details are still unknown, it is possible the inquiry involves allegations unrelated to Visclosky's campaign or his lawmaker duties, the FEC noted.