A state senator's aide has been suspended without pay because she allegedly made unauthorized credit card purchases in his name and misused his checking account.

The Senate's chief clerk said Wednesday that 42-year-old Pamela Barnhart was suspended as an administrative assistant in Sen. Bob Regola's Harrisburg office.

Barnhart was responsible for overseeing office accounts for the Westmoreland County Republican.

Chief clerk Russ Faber says Capitol Police are investigating more than $40,000 in credit card charges and withdrawals from a
checking account.

Faber said the case involves Regola's personal funds, not taxpayers' money.

No home telephone listing for Barnhart could be immediately found.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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