An aide to former Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo.) accused in a kickback scandal is to plead guilty to a misdemeanor Friday for not reporting income on her Senate financial disclosure form.

Ginnie Kontnik faces up to a year in prison and a $100,000 fine, though a press report indicates that the Justice Department will not seek jail time.

Kontnik admitted to a reporter in February 2004 that she had demanded money back from one of Campbell’s employees, Brian Thompson, after arranging to inflate his pay. She said at the time that it was reimbursement for expenses.

Campbell announced his retirement from the Senate weeks after Kontnik’s admission sparked a scandal that also included allegations that Campbell had steered a no-bid federal contract to a campaign contributor.

Campbell was replaced by a Democrat, Ken Salazar, contributing to the one-seat majority Democrats gained in the 2006 election.

The criminal information filed by the Public Integrity Section of the Justice Department does not allege a kickback. It states only that Kontnik omitted $2,000 she had received from an employee from her Senate disclosure. It does not indicate that she raised his pay, then asked for it back.

Thompson, who had worked under Kontnik in Campbell’s suburban Denver office, said Kontnik gave him a bonus in 2002, but demanded $2,000 back so she could pay her divorce attorney.

Kontnik confirmed the basics of Thompson’s account to a reporter, but said the money was reimbursement for legitimate “political-slash-Senate-related expenses.”

She said she got the money “under an arrangement previously agreed to by the senator [Campbell],” but then backed off, saying, “He might not have technically signed off on it.”

The Denver Post reported on its website Monday that Kontnik is to plead guilty Friday.

Quoting documents filed in U.S. District Court in Denver, the Post reported that officials are saying they will not seek jail time in exchange for her plea. She has already agreed to pay $2,000 in restitution to the Senate.

The Hill reported in February that the investigation was continuing and that Campbell has spent $150,000 in unused campaign funds on legal fees.