Ethics complaint filed against Nickel for misuse of TikTok

Rep.-elect Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., left, and Rep.-elect Wiley Nickel, D-N.C., join newly-elected members of the House of Representatives as they arrive at the Capitol for an orientation program, in Washington, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

RALEIGH — Jeff Jackson isn’t the only North Carolina Democrat in Congress with a TikTok problem.

The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT) is filing a complaint about Democratic Rep. Wiley Nickel’s (NC-13) TikTok usage with the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE).

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FACT’s complaint demands OCE investigate whether Nickel is violating House rules and abusing official resources by using his TikTok account for official and political purposes, according to a story first published in The Daily Caller.

“In the present case, Rep. Nickel’s use of his TikTok account itself and the content posted are both an abuse of government resources,” the complaint alleges.

This complaint is the second filed by FACT over alleged official use of TikTok for official and political purposes. The first was filed against controversial Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar.

“These violations reveal a complete disregard for the clear and longstanding prohibition of using official resources for political purposes. Complying with the law and House Ethics rules is a fundamental obligation for elected officials. The OCE must move swiftly to investigate and enforce these bright-line standards and apply the requisite penalty,” said Kendra Arnold, Executive Director of FACT in a statement.

Federal law and House ethics rules require strict separation between campaign and official acts. Members are prohibited from using official resources for campaign purposes and using campaign funds for official purposes.

TikTok is banned from federal government devices and in dozens of states, including in North Carolina.

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Matt Mercer is the editor in chief of North State Journal and can be reached at matt@northstatejournal.com.