Tag: Hatch Act violation

House panel votes to subpoena Kellyanne Conway over Hatch Act testimony

The Hill logoThe House Oversight and Reform Committee on Wednesday voted to subpoena White House counselor Kellyanne Conway after she did not appear voluntarily at a hearing focused on her repeated alleged violations of the Hatch Act.

The committee voted 25-16 to compel Conway’s testimony following roughly 30 minutes of arguments over the validity of the Office of Special Counsel’s (OSC) findings that she repeatedly violated the law, which prohibits federal officials from weighing in on elections in their government capacity.

Rep. Justin Amash (Mich.) was the lone Republican to side with Democrats to authorize the subpoena.

View the complete June 26 article by Brett Samuels on The Hill website here.

Kroll violates federal law at Paulsen campaign event

Erik Paulsen and Bob Kroll have made it all too clear that they’ll go to extreme lengths to further their own personal political agendas, even if it means violating federal law’

Today, Minnesota Fraternal Order of Police member Bob Kroll appeared in his official capacity as a Minneapolis Police Officer to endorse Erik Paulsen at an event in Wayzata. Kroll’s appearance and endorsement directly violates the Hatch Act, which prohibits State and Local officers from using their “official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election or a nomination for office.”

“Erik Paulsen and Bob Kroll have made it all too clear that they’ll go to extreme lengths to further their own personal political agendas, even if it means violating federal law. We’ve come to expect this kind of misbehavior by Kroll, but it’s disturbing that Erik Paulsen would go along with these antics. Minnesotans in the Third District deserve a Representative in Congress who will put their interests above his own, something Erik Paulsen has shown no interest in doing.”

Kroll’s appearance today is not the first time he’s flouted Federal Law. In 2016, then-Minneapolis Police Chief Janeé Harteau ordered him to stop wearing his official uniform when partaking in political activities. But just last month, he appeared on a campaign mailer for Republican Tim Pawlenty in his MPD uniform.

Why Ben Carson’s appearance in Phoenix was likely a violation of federal law

The following article by Philip Bump was posted on the Washington Post website August 23, 2017:

At a rally for President Trump at the Phoenix Convention Center on Aug. 22 in Phoenix, the announcer introduced to the stage, “The secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Ben Carson.” (The Washington Post)

This article has been updated.

Right before Ben Carson took the stage at President Trump’s rally in Phoenix on Tuesday night, the announcer introduced him.

“The secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Ben Carson,” the voice intoned, prompting cheers from the audience. Continue reading “Why Ben Carson’s appearance in Phoenix was likely a violation of federal law”