Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse (R.) took time this past weekend to drive for the popular ride-hailing service Uber, according to media reports.
University of Nebraska student Adrian Silva was leaving his Saturday evening shift at the Sheldon Art Center and told BuzzFeed News that he forgot his coat and found it too cold to walk home. Silva was matched with a driver whose name and picture matched those of Sen. Sasse.
Got a ride from @BenSasse#Uber#UberLincolnpic.twitter.com/S5FvwiH8oI
— Adrian Silva (@Adrian1Silva) November 12, 2016
Sasse confirmed on Twitter that the driver was indeed him and not an imposter. The senator said that he liked to work alongside Nebraskans.
Fact check?#real https://t.co/p8qRG1xp8p
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) November 13, 2016
Sasse said the money he had earned over the weekend would go to charity since he is not allowed to make money outside of his salary as a senator.
@kimkuz
I like to work alongside and for Nebraskans.
I drove uber yesterday.
(For charity--I'm obv'ly not allowed to make any outside money)— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) November 13, 2016
Sasse's office said that his stint driving for Uber was part of a "work tour" that he was participating in, CNN reported.
Pro-Tip
If you throw up in an uber, the surcharge can be substantialUpside: It's a market incentive to get drivers to agree to Sat.pm work
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) November 14, 2016
Silva said that Sasse was a "pretty cool guy" and was able to discuss politics with the senator, even though Silva was a Hillary Clinton supporter.
"I asked if we could talk about the election, and he said, 'Sure, you can lay it on me,'" Silva told BuzzFeed. "Since Ben Sasse was one of the few Republican senators who didn't endorse Donald, I asked him if he held that position still. He made it clear that they would obviously have to work together."