BachmannRep. Michele Bachmann violated House ethics rules when she directed auto dealers in an official email to contact the National Automotive Dealers Association (NADA), according to a complaint by three self-described “Minnesota bloggers.”

The crux of the complaint (pdf), which blogger Brian Falldin says was sent to the Office of Congressional Ethics by registered mail today, is that Bachmann’s email benefitted NADA, a political organization that has donated to her campaigns. House franking privileges don’t extend to aiding political groups in official communications, the complaint charges, asking for an investigation and, if warranted, referral of the case to the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct for possible sanctions.

The bloggers who filed the complaint include Falldin and Dusty Trice, who have worked on campaigns for Democratic candidates, and Aaron Landry, who blogs for the left-leaning MNPublius.

In a sign that the term “blogger” may be losing derogatory connotations it holds in political circles — as seen in the recent state legislative session – the trio’s press release brashly begins, “Minnesota bloggers Dusty Trice, Brian Falldin, and Aaron Landry filed an ethics complaint ….”