Reid Held Campaign Meeting In Capitol Office

Senate Democrat Leader Harry Reid (NV) held a meeting with his staff to discuss his political plans and re-election campaign on official government property in the U.S. Capitol.

Sen. Harry Reid summoned dozens of staffers to the Senate’s Mansfield Room Tuesday and delivered a clear message: He’s running for reelection next year. … The Senate minority leader faces what could be a difficult reelection race next year, plus his would-be successors are ready to run the Democratic Caucus the moment he calls it quits. But Reid told roughly 50 aides at an unusual all-staff briefing just off the Senate floor that he is definitely running in 2016, prompting a round of applause, according to attendees.

Senate ethics rules make it abundantly clear that campaign activity is prohibited in a federal building.

“Senate resources may only be used for official purposes. The General Appropriations statute, 31 U.S.C § 1301, provides that official funds are to be used only for the purposes for which they were appropriated. No official resources may be used to conduct campaign activities. In addition to this general prohibition, there are several criminal statutes that impose additional restrictions on campaign activities by Senate Members and staff: No Campaign Activity in a Federal Building[.]”