Violating the Hatch Act

It's not the kind of thing that will make widespread news, especially in the aftermath of Libya hunting down and assassinating our ambassador, but it's important to make note of it.

It's important because it reminds us how a president can turn the government into a re-election campaign.

The U.S. Office of Special Council issued this release finding that Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius violated the Hatch Act:

“Sebelius violated the Hatch Act when she made extemporaneous partisan remarks in a speech delivered in her official capacity on February 25, 2012. The Hatch Act prohibits federal employees from using their official authority or influence to affect the outcome of an election. A federal employee is permitted to make partisan remarks when speaking in their personal capacity, but not when using their official title or when speaking about agency business.

After the event, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reclassified the trip from official to political and issued a statement to that effect. Secretary Sebelius and HHS reimbursed the U.S. Treasury for all costs and expenses associated with her travel to the event. OSC found no evidence that Secretary Sebelius made any other political statements in her official capacity."