State Democratic Party pays to "address and resolve" questions?

It leaves me with more questions...for instance...why?

The state Democratic Party on Thursday forfeited more than $24,000 to the state Board of Elections to "address and resolve" questions about the party's role in past donations of flights and gifts that are tied to the campaign of former Gov. Mike Easley.

The state party's chairman, David Young, said party officials had believed that seven donations of flights and gifts made in 2003 and 2004 had gone to the party. However, he said, there are now questions about whether the party received the benefit.

http://www.newsobserver.com/2972/story/1619445.html