Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) briefly offered videos on Cameo, a website on which public figures sell personalized videos to fans, before the page went offline amid questions about whether it would have violated House ethics rules.
An introductory video from Boebert was visible on Cameo as of Monday morning, and a screenshot posted by a Semafor reporter showed her charging $250 per video.
“Hey, Cameo, it’s your girl from Colorado, Lauren Boebert. I am so excited to be joining another platform where I can connect directly with supporters from all over the world,” she said in the video. “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. You can book a video now on my Cameo profile, and I will be seeing you and talking with you soon.”
Her appearance on Cameo followed two former members of Congress joining the platform: Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) joined last week after withdrawing his name for attorney general, and George Santos (R-N.Y.) joined after being expelled from Congress.
A Cameo spokesperson confirmed the authenticity of the Boebert account to The Denver Post, noting that she was the first sitting member of Congress to join the platform.
But the account raised immediate questions about whether the videos would violate House rules, since Boebert, unlike Gaetz and Santos, is still a sitting member of the House.
While Ethics Committee rules say that members may earn up to $31,815 per year outside of their congressional salary, there are limitations on how they may do so. One of the rules in the code of conduct dictates House members “may not accept an honorarium for a speech, a writing for publication, or other similar activity,” with a speech being defined as an “address, oration, talk, lecture, or other form of oral presentation, whether delivered in person, transmitted electronically, recorded, or broadcast over the media.”
By Tuesday, Boebert’s Cameo page was taken offline, directing to a 404 error page.
Boebert’s office did not return requests for comment about Cameo or ethics questions surrounding it, and Camero did not immediately return a request for comment.
