Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) became the first sitting member of Congress on Cameo over the weekend, following former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) onto the video-for-hire platform.
But it didn’t last.
By Monday evening, the Beetlejuice fan deactivated her account, which had been offering short video greetings for $250 a pop.
Members of Congress are allowed to earn up to $31,815 for work on the side, but they are not allowed to collect “a payment of money or a thing of value for an appearance, speech, or article,” also known as honoraria.
It’s not clear if video greetings would be considered part of that category.
“It seems like it could potentially violate the ban on honoraria, but it’s untested,” Aaron Scherb, senior director of legislative affairs at Common Cause, told the Colorado Politics website.
The House Ethics Committee could ultimately decide if sitting members are allowed on the service.
Boebert had said in her introductory video that she was “excited” to connect directly with her supporters and suggested some topics for the videos.
“Whether you or someone you know needs an America First pep talk, if you want to surprise friends or family with a message for a special day, or if you just want to know my thoughts on whatever’s on your mind, Cameo is the place to connect with me,” she said.
The Denver Post confirmed the account actually belonged to Boebert, and that she described herself on the site as: “Not your typical Colorado Republican politician. Jesus loving, Constitutionalist, America first, freedom fighter.”
She had been listed first as a political commentator, but was later updated to place herself in the “influencers” category before going offline completely, the newspaper said.
Several of Boebert’s former colleagues are on Cameo. Gaetz quit Congress after President-elect Donald Trump picked him for attorney general. But Gaetz abandoned that bid amid a growing sex-and-drugs scandal ― including allegations of sex with a minor ― and joined Cameo in recent days, where he now charges $500 per video.
Democracy In The Balance
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Former Rep. George Santos (R-NY), a serial liar who over the summer pleaded guilty to fraud and identity theft, charges $250 for his videos.