Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Co) joined the Cameo platform last weekend, charging $250 for personalized videos where she offered advice and pep talks to users looking for a bit of holiday entertainment. Boebert’s presence on Cameo was notable for several reasons, most significantly because she was the first sitting member of Congress to use the platform to earn extra income.
Her decision followed that of other Republican lawmakers, such as Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who had also joined the site recently, and Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), who created a profile after being ousted from Congress.
However, Boebert’s time on Cameo was short-lived. Just days after her debut, her profile was removed from the site. While the exact reason for her removal remains unclear, the timing suggests it was linked to potential violations of House ethics rules. As a sitting member of Congress, Boebert is subject to stricter guidelines than former lawmakers like Santos, which may have contributed to the decision to delete her Cameo account.
Rep. Lauren Boebert’s Cameo Profile Removed Amid Ethics Concerns Over Outside Income
House Ethics Committee rules allow members of Congress to earn up to $31,815 in outside income annually, but they impose restrictions on how that income is generated. Specifically, one rule prohibits members from accepting “honorariums” for speeches or similar activities, including those delivered electronically or through media platforms like Cameo.
Since Boebert’s personalized videos could be considered a form of speech or presentation, they may have fallen under this restriction, which would explain why her profile was taken down.
While Boebert is still serving in Congress, the issue of outside earnings has been a point of concern, especially when it involves public-facing platforms like Cameo. In contrast to Gaetz and Santos, who faced fewer immediate ethics issues due to their status as non-sitting members, Boebert’s use of Cameo while still in office raised eyebrows. The brief duration of her Cameo venture highlights the potential consequences for lawmakers engaging in such activities without adhering to the established rules.
As of now, neither Boebert’s office nor Cameo has publicly commented on the ethics concerns surrounding her actions. The situation leaves open questions about whether there will be further scrutiny of lawmakers using Cameo or similar platforms in the future, and whether more members of Congress will face similar challenges as they look for ways to supplement their income outside of their official duties.
