Complaint Calls for Investigation Into NRCC’s Use of House Floor and Committee Footage in Partisan Political Materials
Defend The Vote has filed a complaint with the U.S. House Office of Congressional Conduct calling for an investigation into Rep. Richard Hudson, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), over the NRCC’s use of photographs and video taken during official House Floor and committee proceedings in partisan political materials.
The complaint alleges that the NRCC used images and footage of Democratic members taken during House proceedings on its website and social media accounts to promote partisan political messages, despite House rules prohibiting the use of House Floor and committee footage for partisan political purposes.
“Taxpayer-funded House proceedings should never be turned into political campaign material,” said Defend The Vote Executive Director Brian Lemek. “The rules are clear that footage from the House Floor and committee hearings cannot be turned into partisan campaign material. We are asking the Office of Congressional Conduct to investigate Rep. Hudson’s conduct and hold him accountable.”
The complaint documents multiple examples of photographs and videos used by NRCC-affiliated political communications featuring Democratic members during House proceedings, including footage from the State of the Union and committee hearings. It also notes that House Ethics guidance makes clear the prohibition applies to both still images and footage obtained from third-party sources such as C-SPAN.
Defend The Vote is calling on the Office of Congressional Conduct to immediately investigate Rep. Hudson and the NRCC’s violation of House rules and take appropriate action.