Booker Slapped With Ethics Complaint for Fundraising Off Record-Breaking Senate Speech

Sen. Cory Booker's (D., N.J.) marathon 25-hour speech last week broke a Senate speaking record. But his fundraising off that speech broke long-standing Senate ethics rules, a watchdog group alleged in a complaint filed Tuesday.

The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT), an ethics watchdog nonprofit organization, alleged that Booker violated ethics rules by using his record-breaking speech for campaign purposes. In a complaint filed Tuesday with the Senate Select Committee on Ethics, the watchdog group highlighted a series of campaign messages Booker sent to his supporters during and after his record-breaking performance on the Senate floor, including messages asking followers to "stand with Cory" during his speech by signing up for his email list and others that solicited contributions for Booker and the DNC from anyone "inspired" by his historic showing.