RALEIGH Federal election officials say John Edwards owes taxpayers more than $2.1 million in public matching funds improperly received after he dropped his 2008 run for the White House, yet disclosure reports show his failed campaign is still spending freely.

Edwards' hopes for the Democratic presidential nomination imploded in a sex scandal four years ago that left him facing criminal charges. But reports filed last week show his 2008 primary campaign spent $836,712 in 2011 on airfare, hotel rooms, cellphones and other expenses.

The campaign reported $2.1 million in cash remaining as of Dec. 31, a figure close to what the Federal Election Commission says the former North Carolina senator still owes the U.S. Treasury.

Patricia Fiori, one of four lawyers working for Edwards in the FEC case, said this week she could not comment, referring questions to the campaign.

Attempts by The Associated Press to find anyone who could comment for the campaign were unsuccessful.

Judith Ingram, the FEC's spokeswoman, said Wednesday she could not comment on whether the agency has a pending enforcement action against Edwards.

In a separate criminal case filed by the U.S. Justice Department last year, Edwards is accused of concealing nearly $1 million provided by two wealthy campaign donors to hide his pregnant mistress as he ran for president.

Politicians are barred by law from using campaign funds for personal expenses. The required year-end report filed by Edwards on Jan. 31 provides little insight into what political purpose some of the campaign's recent expenses might have served.

Melanie Sloan, executive director of the campaign-finance watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said it's not unusual for presidential campaigns to remain open years after the election is over, especially if there is an unresolved audit or unpaid debts.

"All they are allowed to do are activities to wind down the campaign," Sloan said. "If these are legitimate expenses, then the Edwards campaign should be willing to explain them."

Edwards' campaign reports show more than $15,000 spent in 2011 on airfare, though the destinations or purpose of the travel were not listed.

Most of the $12,811 in credit-card charges for lodging were made to websites such as Hotels.com and Kayak.com.

More than $266,000 was paid for salary, payroll and health-insurance premiums, along with $1,116 for cell phones.

The largest expense, $315,000, was paid to Utrecht & Phillips, the Washington law firm fighting last year's unanimous FEC ruling that Edwards must return its remaining funds to taxpayers.

Julius L. Chambers, listed as campaign treasurer on last week's 2011 finance report, is a Charlotte lawyer and retired chancellor of N.C. Central University. He did not return calls; Chambers' assistant said he was no longer associated with the Edwards campaign.