The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust, a nonprofit ethics watchdog, is calling for an investigation into Sen. Martin Heinrich for allegedly linking official action with solicitations for campaign contributions.
In a letter written Monday and shared first with The Washington Times, the group told Sens. Chris Coons, Delaware Democrat, and James Lankford, Oklahoma Republican, chair and vice chair of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics, that Mr. Heinrich, New Mexico Democrat, sent email solicitations promoting legislation, followed by asking the recipients to make a contribution to his campaign.
Some instances show him asking email recipients to “co-sponsor” the legislation by selecting different donation amounts ranging from $10 to $1,000.
Senate ethics rules prohibit senators from directly linking official action to solicitations for campaign contributions, the foundation said. The Washington Times has reached out to Mr. Heinrich’s office and his campaign for comment.
“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, executive director of FACT.
“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,” she said.
Mr. Heinrich is up for reelection in the seat he has held since 2013, and his seat is rated as solidly Democratic.
In the letter written by Ms. Arnold, one example shows an email sent on March 18 by Mr. Heinrich’s principal campaign committee, stating, “Martin introduced the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act to ensure working families aren’t shut out of the American dream of owning a house.”
The email contains a link asking, “Will you help make housing more affordable by signing on as a co-sponsor to Martin’s First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act? Add your name to our petition today.”
The complaint says a link brings visitors to a campaign website that asks them to enter their personal information to become a co-sponsor. They are then redirected to a page that asks them to “chip in to Martin’s re-election campaign.”
Another email from Mr. Heinrich’s principal campaign committee on April 10 focused on a different piece of legislation that he had introduced in the Senate.
“No parent should ever have to worry about whether they can find infant formula or if it’s even safe for their child to drink. That’s why I’m proud to introduce the Infant Formula Made in America Act to expand operations for small infant formula producers here in the United States and keep formula on our shelves,” it stated.
The email has a link asking, “Will you show your support for this critical legislation by becoming a citizen cosponsor of my Infant Formula Made in America Act today?”
The complaint says that the link once again directs visitors to the campaign website that asks users to put in their personal information to become a co-sponsor of the legislation, and then are redirected to a page that seeks contributions.
“In essence, by employing this fundraising tactic, Heinrich indicates to potential contributors that his official actions can be influenced by campaign contributions,” the letter says. “This is exactly the kind of appearance of impropriety that the Senate Ethics Rules aim to prohibit.”
Ms. Arnold says in her letter that federal law and ethics rules “generally require strict separation between political and official actions.”
She called on the ethics committee to enforce the “prohibition against fundraising based upon official action.”