New York Republican Rep. Michael Grimm violated House ethics rules when he used the broadcast version of a floor speech he delivered in a fund-raising appeal, according to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW).
In a May 24 email to supporters, Grimm included a link to his May 17 floor speech concerning the National Defense Authorization Act. The same email also included a link for making a campaign donation, according to CREW.
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House ethics rules stipulate that “broadcast coverage and recordings of House floor proceedings may not be used for any political purpose,” according to CREW. The rules also state that “radio and television tapes and film of any coverage of House Committee proceedings may not be used, or made available for use, as partisan political campaign material to promote or oppose the candidacy of any person for public office.”
Grimm was elected to the House from New York in 2010 and is a former Marine who served in the Gulf War and is also a former FBI agent. He represents Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn. He was among the more visible Tea Party congressional candidates who helped lead the Republican sweep of the 2010 election.
A spokesman for Grimm has been asked for a response to the CREW allegations and this post will be updated accordingly. For more from CREW, go here.
UPDATE: Grimm flak says no comment
Carol Danko, a spokesman for Grimm, said the New York congressman has no comment on the CREW letter to the House ethics panel.
