Robert Walker Discusses Ethics Complaint Against Democrats for Sit-In Fundraising

June 29, 2016

Robert L. Walker, of counsel in Wiley Rein’s Election Law & Government Ethics Practice, was quoted in a USA Today article published June 27 about an ethics complaint filed against several House Democrats for allegedly engaging in campaign activities while participating in last week’s sit-in that aimed to force a vote on gun legislation.

Among those named in the complaint were Reps. Jared Huffman (D-CA) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), who may have violated House rules by sending campaign emails from the House floor during the sit-in, and including images of the event. The June 27 complaint was filed with the House Office of Congressional Ethics by the Foundation for Accountability & Civic Trust, a conservative-leaning ethics watchdog group, USA Today reported.

Mr. Walker, a former chief counsel and staff director of the House and Senate ethics committees, said that while the fundraising appears to be a violation of House rules, the House could decide not to pursue the violations. He said the gun debate stirs “intense partisan feelings” in Congress, which is “never a good context for a matter to go to the Ethics Committee.”

To read the complete article, please click here.