A nonpartisan ethics watchdog has called for an investigation into Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) over allegations that he improperly linked a marathon Senate floor speech to campaign fundraising efforts, potentially violating Senate ethics rules.
The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT) filed a formal complaint with the Senate Ethics Committee on April 8, 2025, urging scrutiny of communications sent by Booker’s campaign during and after his 25-hour speech on March 31.
Booker’s speech, which addressed concerns about corporate influence on democracy, was promoted in advance on his campaign social media accounts.
During and after the address, his campaign disseminated emails and text messages encouraging supporters to donate to his reelection fund and the Democratic National Committee (DNC).
One message, titled “We must speak up,” stated: “If you were inspired by what you saw today, split a contribution between Cory Booker and the DNC,” accompanied by a donation link. FACT contends these solicitations directly tied campaign fundraising to an official Senate action, violating rules prohibiting members from using their positions for personal or political gain.
In its complaint, FACT highlighted Senate Ethics Manual guidelines barring senators from soliciting contributions based on official duties, emphasizing the need to avoid even the “appearance” of impropriety.
The group argued that Booker’s actions risked framing the Senate floor as a “campaign venue,” incentivizing colleagues to prioritize fundraising appeal over legislative merit.
The complaint cited six specific campaign messages sent between April 1 and April 2, which included requests for contributions, links to Booker’s campaign store, and prompts to join his mailing list.
FACT Executive Director Kendra Arnold warned that such tactics could erode public trust by implying that “official actions can be influenced by campaign contributions.”
The Senate Ethics Committee, chaired by Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) and vice-chaired by Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), has not yet commented on whether it will open an inquiry. Booker’s office has not publicly responded to the allegations.
FACT’s complaint underscores longstanding ethical boundaries separating official duties from political activities.
The group noted that while some senators adopt practices to “strictly separate fundraising from substantive legislative activities,” Booker’s approach blurred these lines.
The outcome of the complaint could set a precedent for how the Senate addresses the interplay between legislative actions and campaign strategies.
The full complaint is available on FACT’s website.