DES MOINES — Yesterday, Iowa Democrats filed a complaint with the U.S. House Ethics Committee against Rep. Ashley Hinson for violating federal law and misusing official government resources for lobbying efforts. In an effort to rally opposition against the petition to count all of the outstanding ballots in Iowa’s neighboring Second Congressional District, Rep. Hinson used her official media accounts on January 6, January 7, January 12, and January 14 — in some cases from government buildings — to lobby others to join her and take action. Hinson’s use of social media directly violates federal code 31 U.S.C. § 1301(a) and the House of Representatives Ethics Manual.
Read excerpts from the article below:
Cedar Rapids Gazette: Iowa Democrats ask U.S. House ethics body to investigate Hinson
By Erin Murphy, January 18, 2021
DES MOINES — The Iowa Democratic Party complained Monday to a nonpartisan U.S. House ethics body that Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson has improperly used her official social media accounts, an accusation the congresswoman’s office disputes.
The state party’s complaint, filed with the U.S. House Office of Congressional Ethics, asserts that Hinson used official social media accounts to lobby people against a Democrat-led challenge to the election results in Eastern Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District.
The party’s request for an investigation notes that, in a series of videos, 1st District Rep. Hinson asks people to contact their representatives to urge them to reject the challenge to results in the 2nd District.
…“On multiple occasions, Rep. Hinson has used her official social media accounts to solicit support from the general public for her opposition to an outstanding contest petition in a neighboring congressional district,” says the request, signed by Iowa Democratic Party Chair Mark Smith.
…A spokesman for the Office of Congressional Ethics said the office’s rules prohibit commenting on specific complaints like Smith’s.