Watchdog Asks Ethics Office to Investigate Nancy Mace Donation Solicitation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct 5, 2023
Contact: Michael Clauw, mclauw@campaignforaccountability.org, 202.780.5750
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Campaign for Accountability (CfA) asked the Office of Congressional Ethics to investigate whether Representative Nancy Mace (R-SC) violated federal law and House ethics rules by soliciting contributions on the Capitol grounds.
On October 4, 2023, Rep. Mace, while standing in the Capitol Rotunda, appeared on Fox Business speaking with host Neil Cavuto about her vote to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. During the broadcast, Rep. Mace asked viewers to donate to her campaign website—repeating the request twice more during the interview. Rep. Mace also shared the clip of her soliciting campaign funds from the Capitol on her social media accounts, again requesting donations, but later deleted the tweet.
CfA Executive Director Michelle Kuppersmith said, “Rep. Mace appears to have broken federal law and House rules so brazenly as to defy explanation. The Office of Congressional Ethics should take immediate action to hold her accountable.”
The federal criminal code prohibits all employees of the federal government, including Members of Congress, from soliciting or receiving donations in connection with an election “while in any room or building occupied in the discharge of official duties.” Violations are punishable by fines of up to $5,000 and imprisonment of up to three years, or both.
House rules also clearly prohibit such solicitations; the House Ethics Manual states that House rooms, offices, and buildings are official resources, and may not be used for any political or campaign activity.
The Senate Select Committee on Ethics recently admonished Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) for similar conduct after he solicited campaign contributions both for the campaign of former Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker during an interview with Fox conducted in the Rotunda of the Russell Senate Office Building, and for soliciting contributions to his own campaign in another media interview conducted in the Senate Dirksen Building.
Ms. Kuppersmith continued, “Simply admonishing a member of Congress who clearly and egregiously violates the ban on soliciting contributions on the Capitol grounds appears insufficient to deter this misconduct when the prize for breaking the rules may be a massive fundraising haul. The OCE should investigate and, if it finds Rep. Mace violated the law, refer her to the Department of Justice for further action.”
Campaign for Accountability is a nonpartisan, nonprofit watchdog organization that uses research, litigation, and aggressive communications to expose misconduct and malfeasance in public life and hold those who act at the expense of the public good accountable for their actions.