A nonprofit ethics watchdog is calling for an investigation into Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) for allegedly violating Senate Ethics Rules by linking official action with solicitations for campaign contributions.
In a letter sent to Sens. Chris Coons (D-DE) and James Lankford (R-OK) on Monday, the leaders of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics, the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust allege Heinrich sent emails promoting legislation that then asked recipients to make contributions to his campaign. Heinrich is currently up for reelection in a seat he has held for nearly a decade.
The letter cites several different instances in which the New Mexico Democrat’s campaign sent emails promoting legislation like the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act or the Infant Formula Made in America Act, which was followed by requests for campaign contributions.
The foundation claims that Senate ethics rules prohibit senators from directly linking official action to solicitations for campaign contributions and that using campaign funds to generate grassroots support for the senator’s own legislation is behavior that “reflects unfavorably on the Senate and creates an appearance of impropriety.”
“Federal law and Senate ethics rules do not allow Senators to fundraise based upon their official duties, in part because it would lead to the public rightfully question whether the Senator’s primary concern was their political campaign,” said Kendra Arnold, the executive director of FACT.
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“In a case like this, where there is literally a fictional offer to ‘co-sponsor’ legislation along with a request for a campaign contribution, it clearly crosses the line. It is important these laws are enforced so that Senators are not incentivized to treat all official business as a campaign fundraising opportunity rather than acting on the merits of issues,” she added.
Heinrich’s campaign declined to comment on the accusations, only noting they had not received any notice of an investigation that had been launched by the Senate Ethics Committee.