FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) _ A Republican Party organization claims that Democratic congressional candidate Michael Montagano's father has violated campaign financing laws by paying for his son's living expenses.

The National Republican Congressional Committee said in a complaint filed Thursday with the Federal Election Commission that Montagano has been without an income since mid-2007 yet bought a $326,000 Elkhart County home with his father.

Montagano is challenging Republican Rep. Mark Souder in northeastern Indiana's 3rd district. Montagano's campaign released a statement saying, "Their attacks are completely false."

Montagano, 27, suspended his law career last year to campaign full time. He told The Journal Gazette in June that he and his wife were living off her income as a museum consultant.

In a filing with the clerk of the House, Montagano reported no income this year and about $25,000 from his former law firm last year.

The NRCC said it appeared that Montagano "accepted payment for routine living expenses from his father after he became a candidate for federal office. There appears to be no history of his father paying his living expenses prior to his becoming a candidate. As such, these payments constitute excessive contributions to Montagano for Congress."

The complaint includes copies of real estate filings that show Michael and Joseph Montagano bought a house in Bristol in July 2007 for $326,000. They obtained a $226,000 mortgage on the property in October 2007.

Joseph Montagano paid the $712 in property taxes that fall, according to the complaint.