Last week, A1F.org wrote that the so-called “sit-in” by House Democrats was actually a fundraiser in disguise. Now, House Dems face an ethics complaint for violating House rules barring fundraising around specific legislation—and for using House resources to do so.
According to an article in USA TODAY, the Foundation For Accountability & Civic Trust (FACT) filed a complaint with the House Office of Congressional Ethics that House Dems violated the House ethics manual: “the House buildings, and House rooms and offices—including district offices … may not be used for the conduct of campaign or political activities … a member may not film a campaign commercial or have campaign photos taken in a congressional office.”
During the sit-in, Jared Huffman, D-Calif., Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., and Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., sent fundraising emails, images and videos from the House floor, in violation of rules barring photos and video (Schakowsky is not named in the complaint). House Democrats also sent fundraising emails referencing Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and John Lewis, D-Ga., demanding a vote on gun control, violating the ban on fundraising tied to specific legislation.
