By John Solomon

The Washington Post

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, R, faced questions about some overeager tactics by his security detail. Now questions about security are aimed at fellow GOP candidate and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Giuliani's campaign spending reports showed no security expenses during the first three months of this year. But the burly guards who trail Giuliani around the country have not been working for free.

For most of this year, Giuliani's consulting firm, Giuliani Partners, has paid the cost of the security detail, an arrangement that has existed since Giuliani stepped down as mayor, campaign spokeswoman Maria Comella said. His campaign travels eventually became so extensive that the campaign began picking up the costs on June 18, she said.

Campaign finance experts say the campaign may have run afoul of federal campaign laws that prohibit candidates from accepting money or in-kind contributions from corporations.

"It certainly appears to challenge the law, with respect to a corporate contribution," said Ellen Miller, a longtime campaign finance watchdog in Washington. "A corporation cannot make an in-kind contribution by paying for a service or a party or even food at a party."