Trump adviser broke law with Biden criticism, watchdog says
WASHINGTON โ A federal watchdog agency on Monday reported that one of President Donald Trumpโs economic advisers repeatedly violated the law during the campaign season with his criticisms of Joe Biden, now the president-elect. The Hatch Act prevents federal employees from engaging in political work while performing their official duties. They argued, for example, that Navarroโs statement about Biden โkowtowing to the Chineseโ was acceptable for him to make in his official capacity. Navarro violated the Hatch Act because he engaged in that very activity,โ the report said. The report said itโs up to the president to determine the โappropriate disciplinary action,โ showing the limits of the law.
McEnany wears 2 hats as WH press secretary, campaign adviser
WASHINGTON โ A White House press secretary who refers questions to the White House? Kayleigh McEnany is wearing two hats, one as a Trump 2020 campaign adviser and the other as the White House press secretary, charged with articulating the administrationโs policies and positions to the press and the public. โWell, I havenโt spoken to the president about that, so that would be a question more for the White House,โ she said. Joe Lockhart, who served as White House press secretary under President Bill Clinton, tweeted that McEnanyโs โbehavior is both outrageous and damaging.โ He called for House lawmakers to conduct an inquiry. Bookbinder said McEnany bolstered her position by not taking a question about White House policy in the Fox interview.
USDA head cited for breaking law by backing Trump reelection
WASHINGTON โ A federal watchdog agency has concluded that Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue violated the law in advocating for the reelection of President Donald Trump during an August visit to North Carolina. The Office of Special Counsel called on Perdue to reimburse the government for costs associated with his participation in the event. The Hatch Act prevents federal employees from engaging in political activities while they are on the job. The Trump White House has been dismissive of alleged violations of the act over the years. Chief of Staff Mark Meadows told Politico in late August that โnobody outside of the Beltway really caresโ about Hatch Act concerns that were raised during the GOP nominating convention.
Watchdog groups say convention appearances broke Hatch Act
The Trump White House has taken an ambivalent approach to the ethics rules and norms that guided past administrations. And Wolf and Pompeo now join a substantive list of other Trump officials who have taken a cavalier approach specifically toward the Hatch Act. This video is an egregious violation of the Hatch Act, wrote Claire O. Finkelstein and Richard W. Painter, the two law school professors. They also called for a review of whether State Department employees who helped with logistics could have violated the Hatch Act, as well. The penalty for violating the Hatch Act can include removal from federal service, debarment from federal employment for a period of under five years, suspension, reprimand, or a civil penalty that cannot be greater than $1,000.