Cell Phone Rules Leave Staffers Out in the Rain

Q: I am a staffer in the district office of a Member of the House. In my spare time, I also volunteer on the Member’s re-election campaign. The campaign issued me a cell phone, which I typically use for all types of calls, whether related to the campaign or to my official work in his district office. Last week, while in the Member’s district office, I received a call on my cell phone from our campaign manager. We spoke for about a half-hour regarding planning for upcoming campaign events. When I got off the phone, a lawyer in our district office chastised me for violating House ethics rules. He said I had to leave the office to have such a call. I don’t think that’s right. My understanding is that I can use a campaign cell phone for both official and campaign purposes. Besides, it was raining! Who’s right?