In an appearance on Fox News’ Ingraham Angle with Laura Ingraham, Congressman Steve Scalise alleged that lawmakers violated a federal law prohibiting the use of federal funds to hire a publicity expert to influence the opinions of American voters.
In the interview, Scalise asks, “Who paid this Hollywood producer?” He goes on to state that “it’s against the law to use taxpayer funds to produce a documentary trying to promote their political agenda, or go after their political opponents.”
Scalise suggests the committee broke the law by hiring a producer pic.twitter.com/Wiu8nJxZV0
— Acyn (@Acyn) June 10, 2022
It appears that Scalise is referring to the 1913 Gillette Amendment, which states, “No money appropriated by an Act shall be used for the compensation of a publicity expert unless specifically appropriated by that Act.”
The long-standing, century-old law has long been a flashpoint of discussion in Washington, further amplified by regulations of the Federal Election Committee, which prohibits independent expenditures that seek to defeat a political candidate or party.