While Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) is known for his provocative social media efforts, the Texas Republican is also known for doing the opposite of what’s right. For example, The Daily Beast reports that Cruz took it upon himself to use campaign donations to promote his book’s sales using his official Facebook account. That move, according to experts, the outlet notes, violates a federal law that prohibits candidates from using campaign funds to enrich themselves personally.
“In September and October of last year, Cruz’s campaign, Ted Cruz for Senate, paid for 17 ads on his official Facebook candidate page promoting retail sales of his book, One Vote Away: How A Single Supreme Court Seat Can Change History,” the report states. ‘The sponsored posts, which Facebook cataloged in its political ads library, feature a video of Cruz telling viewers to purchase his book from third parties, and include links to landing pages on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Books-A-Million. The copy on the Amazon links reads, “Buy my book.”’
Ooof!
Ted Cruz, an attorney, should have been aware that the Federal Election Commission bars candidates from using contributions to funnel money into their own pockets by promoting items that generate private income, including publishing royalties.
Stay up-to-date with the latest news!
Subscribe and start recieving our daily emails.
“Experts in election law say that while both Republican and Democratic political committees frequently, and legally, offer books as “donor mementos” in exchange for donations, Cruz appears to have crossed the line by selling the books outright,” the news outlet reports.
It’s always a grift with anyone that ties themselves to Donald Trump’s orbit.
Am humbled & deeply honored to be on President Trump’s SCOTUS list, released today.
I spent this Summer writing a book on the Supreme Court, telling the inside story of how our constitutional liberties hang in the balance, One Vote Away.
PRE-ORDER here: https://t.co/CspAgcr7yO
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) September 9, 2020
“This looks like exactly what you’re not supposed to do,” said Jenna Grande, press secretary for government watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.
Ted Cruz is still in hot water for his decision to abandon his struggling constituents in Texas amid the weather crisis to take a vacay in sunny Cancún in the middle of a state of emergency. On top of that, Cruz played a role in inciting the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection. Maybe it’s time to vote for someone else, right, Texas?
You can read the full report here. (There is a paywall)
Featured image via Gage Skidmore/Flickr, under Creative Commons license 2.0
