A former top aide to ex-Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell pleaded guilty Friday to a charge of making a false statement in a 2002 financial disclosure report.

As part of a plea agreement, Ginnie Kontnik, 51, admitted to the charge during a federal court appearance.

Kontnik served as Campbell's chief of staff from shortly after his party switch in 1995 from Democratic to Republican until February 2004, when she resigned amid published reports that she asked a personal assistant to give her $2,000 from an inflated bonus she had given him.

The employee cashed the check and gave Kontnik 20 $100 bills, prosecutors said.

On March 16, the Justice Department filed a misdemeanor charge against Kontnik in U.S. District Court in Denver.

According to the court filing, she certified that her financial disclosure report was "true, complete and correct to the best of (her) knowledge."

However, according to the charge, she falsely certified that she had not received any reportable gifts when she "well knew she had received approximately $2,000 in cash from an employee whom she supervised."

Kontnik reportedly said the money was reimbursement for legitimate, work-related expenses.

Kontnik faces up to a year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000 at her July 6 sentencing and will remain free on her own recognizance until then. She has agreed not to apply for any public jobs for five years and to pay $2,000 in restitution to the Senate.

Kontnik declined to comment after the hearing. Her attorney, Bill Leone, said she is ready to "get on with her life."

In a statement, Campbell said, "Ms. Kontnik's guilty plea ends this unfortunate matter and the investigation is now complete. Despite all the speculation, I was consistently assured by the Department of Justice that I was not a target of this investigation. It is now clear that their investigation has uncovered no evidence that I acted improperly."

doligosaf@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2970. The Associated Press contributed to this report.