Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) made a brief foray into the world of being an online influencer this week when she started a Cameo account. Our friend Kadia Goba of Semafor posted the news Monday.
Boebert appeared to have taken the account down at some point the same day.
We asked Boebert’s office if she had approval from the House Ethics Committee to open the account. We didn’t hear anything back.
But this episode does highlight a newfound peril of Cameo for members of Congress. Let’s discuss this for a minute.
If you’re not familiar with Cameo, it’s an app that connects famous people to mere mortals, if you will. You can pay a fee and have, let’s say, former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), Kenny G or the Naked Cowboy record you a personalized message.
But, believe it or not, this raises a number of questions for elected lawmakers.
Fundamental in the rules for members of the House is that lawmakers “may not receive compensation and may not permit compensation to accrue to his beneficial interest from any source, the receipt of which would occur by virtue of influence improperly exerted from his position in Congress.”
In other words, members of Congress cannot profit from their office. Any member of Congress going on Cameo would, indeed, be making money off of their position in Congress.
The House Ethics Manual lays out quite clearly that “Members … are prohibited from receiving any honoraria. An honorarium, as defined in the rules, is ‘a payment of money or a thing of value for an appearance, speech, or article.’”
A speech is defined by the Ethics Committee as “an address, oration, talk, lecture, or other form of oral presentation, whether delivered in person, transmitted electronically, recorded, or broadcast over the media.”
A pretty clear reading of this would seem to preclude a member of the House from going on Cameo to give what is the equivalent of a speech or an appearance.
Then there are a variety of practical concerns about members of Congress going on Cameo. A foreign government could order a video with a member of Congress saying something inappropriate. A lobbyist could use it to pay members of Congress to endorse certain policy positions.
All of these scenarios would be potentially problematic.
In short, if you want to get on Cameo, you should probably get out of Congress.
