Senate Ethics Complaint Filed Against Bennet’s Office

Greenwood Village, Colorado – Today the Colorado Republican Party announced that Chairwoman Kristi Burton Brown recently filed a complaint with the Senate Ethics Committee against Senator Michael Bennet’s official staff for flagrantly violating Senate Rules.

Michael Bennet’s taxpayer-funded official Communications Director Olivia Bercow solicited funds for Bennet’s campaign on several occasions, most recently on November 2nd, in direct violation of Senate Rule 41.

Senate Rule 41 prohibits all Senate employees, with limited exceptions that do not apply to Bercow, from soliciting funds in connection with any federal election, including on social media.

Taking personal vacation days, going on leave, or drawing compensation for campaign duties does not exempt Senate employees from Rule 41, according to guidance published by the U.S. Senate Ethics Committee.

Statement from Colorado GOP Chairwoman Kristi Burton Brown: “Bennet’s taxpayer paid staff should be focused on working for Colorado and not soliciting funds for Bennet’s campaign. This is a clear violation of Senate ethics rules, and an abuse of public trust.”

Further, the complaint shows that numerous taxpayer-funded staffers in Bennet’s official office have promoted his re-election campaign, prompting important ethical questions that deserve a full examination to determine the full extent of Bennet’s office’s willful disregard of guidance from the Senate Ethics Committee as it relates to political activity.

Read the complaint: https://mcusercontent.com/27121325a99aaafc5838ea407/files/41bc4917-a70e-7556-01d6-d1ad5dde9806/Ethics_Complain_Olivia_Bercow.pdf