In return for receiving $13 million in federal matching funds, Republican presidential candidate Robert J. Dole agreed to spend no more than $37.1 million during the primary season. As of the end of April, the Dole campaign said it had spent all but $177,000 of that amount, but said it would recoup additional money by selling assets and making other accounting adjustments.

A summary of the complaint said the DNC believed that Dole was well over the spending limit by the end of May because, according to the DNC, the Dole campaign spent a minimum of $520,000 last month on salary, overhead, consultants, travel and event costs.