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FCC Commissioner Broke the Law By Advocating for Trump, Officials Find (theverge.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the slap-on-the-wrist dept.

A newly released letter from government officials finds that Republican FCC commissioner Michael O'Reilly broke a federal law preventing officials from advocating for political candidates when he told a crowd that one way to avoid policy changes was to "make sure that President Trump gets reelected." The Verge reports: After he made the comments, the watchdog group American Oversight filed a letter with the Office of Special Counsel, which handles Hatch Act complaints. In response to the group's letter, the Office of Special Counsel said today that O'Rielly did, in fact, violate the Hatch Act. The letter said O'Rielly responded that he was only trying to provide an explanatory answer to how those changes in policy could be stopped, but the office rejected that reasoning. The office said it has sent a warning letter to O'Rielly this time, but will consider other infractions "a willful and knowing violation of the law" that could lead to legal action.

4 of 324 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Somebody doesn't seem to know the law of the po by Nemyst · · Score: 5, Informative
    I'm sure we're both reading the same Wikipedia page rather than the actual Act, which conveniently summarizes activities which are allowed and disallowed depending on their level of restriction. Your quoted exemption is only for additional restrictions. All federal employees are still affected by the Hatch Act, the only difference is to which extent. Specifically, even employees not covered by the more restrictive policies still may not:

    • - use official authority or influence to interfere with an election
    • ...
    • - engage in political activity while:
      • - on duty
      • - in a government office
      • - wearing an official uniform
      • - using a government vehicle

    Both of these points are applicable to the statement O'Reilly made. Funny how the office tasked with enforcing the Act would know more about it than a random Slashdotter, eh?

  2. Re:There are too many laws by quantaman · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I suspect everyone breaks one law or another every day and doesn't know it.

    Sure... but this is also a law he really shouldn't have broken.

    His job is to help administer the FCC, not be a partisan hack speaking at CPAC and pumping Trump's candidacy.

    Normal ethical people understand their roles come with a responsibility beyond partisanship and tend to avoid repeatedly violating laws meant to ensure ethical behaviour.

    --
    I stole this Sig
  3. Re:Somebody doesn't seem to know the law of the po by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It is likely that the Office of the Special Counsel has a better handle on the Hatch Act and the relevant case history than raymorris does

  4. But, but, Obama! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Dude, Kellyanne Conway alone has as many Hatch Act violations as the whole eight years of the Obama administration!

    The current administration has taken graft and corruption to heights unheard of in the First World. Please, continue to blame Obama for all your problems, though.

    dom