Washington (CNN)-It's never too early to play hardball presidential politics. Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus penned a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder asking for an investigation of an "apparent crime" committed by President Barack Obama Monday.
According to Priebus, the crime was committed by the president, in the Map Room, with a video.
Priebus accused the president of recording a fundraising appeal in the Map Room of the White House. He said it is "not part of the White House residence, but rather 'occupied in the discharge of official duties,'" and called for the Department of Justice to investigate.
The Map Room is located on the ground floor of the White House.
"According to multiple individuals with knowledge of the White House's rooms and layout, the video appears to have been recorded in the Map Room...the White House Counsel has indicated that the video was filmed somewhere in the residential portion of the White House," Priebus said.
It is illegal to solicit contributions for a political purpose from any area of the White House "occupied in the discharge of official duties," or, used for purposes of official White House business.
But the Map Room is considered to be part of the White House residence, and has been for decades. The residence is not subject to restrictions placed on rooms used for official business.
White House spokesman Eric Schultz told CNN, "As we've said in the past, this was wholly appropriate and routinely done in past administrations."
"Many lawyers and experts have all said publicly that what this administration is doing is completely above board," Schultz fired back.
Despite the RNC's claims, both Republican and Democratic administrations have considered the Map Room as part of the White House residence.
From CNN Politics
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Mr Priebus, you obviously have nothing better to do with yourself. Do us all a favor and go play in traffic, preferably freeway traffic. You were put in office to work for the PEOPLE, not to go after the President on silly little things that have no merit.
As a taxpayer and citizen, I just want to say that I don't care about this sniveling nabob and his whining. This is just another diversion from the Party of No to shift focus from solving real problems. I want to see where the JOBS are and how the JOB CREATORS are and I want meaningful dialogue with solutions to preserve and improve our standard of living as Americans.
Here is another example of the Republican strategy of shoot first and ask questions later. It just makes them look like 10 year old boys making up things then running to the teacher. How sad.
Please, the American people are on to the Republican party, they are the party of bratty children. 71% of Americans don't approve of the Republicans, we know who is to blame, and blame will be placed when we go to the voting booth. The President had a deal, a deal painful to many in his party, they Republicans wouldn't deal, all they care about is bringing this President down, and if America goes down with it, so be it.
Seriously? This is the best the RNC can come up with? Petty sniping? Showing your true colors RNC.
Keep it moving people. Nothing to see here!
Come over to my house want kick some sand in your face!
MOMMY!!!!, the democrats aren't picking on me, I just want to cry like a little girl.....
Keep lying til it sticks, Standard GOP policy.
Mad because you did not think of it first?
I am a registered Republican – these guys make me want to puke. RNC get a clue we are fighting 2 wars and the economy is in the toilet – do something constructive and propose real solutions to our real problems.
Nice to see the Republicans creating jobs and securing our border.
So, with all the talk about the deficit and budget cuts, he wants to spend tax dollars for THIS?
Oh no.. He used the Map Room. What are we going to do? I am certain that using the map room raises taxes, makes gay marriage legal and hetero marriages illegal, makes abortion mandatory for pregnancies that go longer than 42 weeks, and forces conservatives to listen to rap music.
why do all these republicans look alike?
This is why the republicans are losing the support of the american people all they do is yell and scream about issues that divide this country to get votes from people who are paranoid about everyone around them gays, muslims, mexicans,abortion, religion,taxes,healthcare there message is always about fear but it is never about the real issue jobs something they can't produce now there complaining about some pictures in the white house how much media time will that consume next week
republican being petty, whats new?
Priebus and his party are not only fiddling while Rome burns, they set the fire themselves.
Mr. Priebus sounds like a grade school child who says the other side cheated in dodge ball. Has he nothing of importance to criticize the president about? This, to me, is one more example of the Republican party being out of touch and needlessly disruptive to making progress in the country. Do something positive.
why don't they charge him with being black while president . these republicans aren't fooling anybody ,except fox news .
RNC get over it dude. He's President now and that will not change no matter what you throw in the wind. Get a life and get your party on track to solve the debt ceiling crisis!!!
Unemployment. Debt ceiling. Economy in crisis. Yet Priebus is howling over the "crime" of Obama filming in the Map Room?
Clearly one of the most serious issues facing the U.S. today. It's so reassuring to know that the RNC is selflessly trying to correct the problem and improve the lives of so many Americans in the process. If they can't gain satisfaction through the Attorney General, I assume they'll propose an amendment to the Constitution, and save the integrity of the Map Room for future generations.
Get into a lather, Reince and repeat.
What a dink!! Is it any wonder the Republican party is going extinct??