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DeVos Might Have Violated Hatch Act with Fox News Interview


The Office of the Special Counsel (OSC) has started Investigating Education Secretary, Betsy DeVos, for potentially Violating the Hatch Act, after she Slammed Joe Biden in a Fox News Interview and her Agency Promoted it through Official Channels.

The OSC Hatch Act Attorney, Eric Johnson, has been Assigned to Investigate the Matter. “We’ll investigate matters in the complaint. The incident seems very well documented.” Johnson said. Johnson also said because of Remote Work prompted by the Coronavirus Pandemic, the Timeline for the Investigation is uncertain.

DeVos would become one of the most High-Profile Trump Officials known to have been Investigated for Violating the Hatch Act. Depending on what OSC finds, she would be the Second Member of the Trump Cabinet to be found to have Violated the Law.

Angela Morabito, an Education Department Spokesperson, said the Complaint was “a classic statement” of an Allegation not being Based in Fact. “The Secretary was asked to respond to oft-repeated criticism of her and her policies, and she defended her policies, including discussing the history of that criticism,” she said in a Statement. “The Hatch Act does not prohibit that kind of exchange with a journalist. Case closed. Of course, we will cooperate with OSC, should they choose to open an investigation of this frivolous complaint.”

At least 12 Trump Senior Officials have Violated the Hatch Act, according to the OSC, the Independent Agency that probes possible Violations. In most Cases, the Office decided that the Violation was Minor enough to merit only a Warning Letter. Only One Case, that of Former Senior Counselor Kellyanne Conway, was sent to Trump for Action, and he Didn’t act on it.

DeVos criticized Biden on Fox in the Interview, which is also Posted on the Education Department's YouTube page, in early September when she was asked about Biden’s Promise to Roll-Back DeVos’ School Choice Policies, some of which he previously Supported in the late 1990s.

“Today he’s turned his back on the kids that we’re talking about and he’s turned his face in favor of the teachers union and what they have to say and what they have to demand and it’s really shameful,” she told the Interviewer. The Education Department also Blasted-Out a Link to the Fox News Clip with the Attack on Biden to an Official Email Distribution List under the Heading “From the Desk of The Secretary.”

The Hatch Act Prohibits most Political Activity by Federal Employees, but the Trump Administration hasn’t paid much Attention to it, even Hosting parts of the Republican National Convention (RNC) at the White House with Multiple Cabinet Members giving Primetime Addresses.

The Office of Special Counsel is an Independent Agency tasked with Investigating the Hatch Act. Depending on the Case and Person, OSC can Discipline Staffers, while others go to the Merit Systems Protection Board, and still more go to an Employee's Supervisor, like Trump for Conway.

Prior to 2012, Hatch Act Violators, who can be Political Appointees or Career Civil Servants, often faced a Severe Punishment, Getting Fired. But now they may face a Variety of Lesser Penalties, including: Fines; Loss of Pay; Demotions; Suspensions, or being Barred from Federal Government Work for a Period-of-Time, although Trump Appointees have generally Not experienced Severe Punishment.

During the Obama Administration, Two Cabinet Secretaries were found to have Violated the Hatch Act: Housing and Urban Development Chief, Julián Castro; and Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius.

DeVos, a Billionaire and Longtime GOP Mega-Donor, agreed to Stop Making Political Contributions during her Tenure as Education Secretary. But she has Engaged in some Political Activity since her Confirmation. She Served as a Campaign Surrogate for Trump during the Iowa Caucuses earlier this year and also Appeared at a Women for Trump Rally in Pennsylvania in February.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker


     
 
 


This post first appeared on The Independent View, please read the originial post: here

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DeVos Might Have Violated Hatch Act with Fox News Interview

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