The Hatch Act is the Federal law prohibiting Federal employees from
participating in elections. The “release” of the “private” email is a
pretty transparent tactic to protect Duffy from charges that she has
violated at least the spirit, if not the letter, of the Act.
But, the revelation that she also gave money to DeMaio is a smoking
cannon. Laura Duffy is not just a federal employee; she is the U.S.
Attorney. The issue isn’t that she violated the Hatch Act. The mayor’s
race is technically nonpartisan and therefore exempt from the Hatch Act,
but California now has nonpartisan Open Primaries. Meaning that,
technically, the Hatch Act no longer applies to any California elections
except that for President.
Yet, the U.S. Attorney’s office has, as recently as this summer,
enforced the Hatch Act against an Orange County Social Services Agency
employee who administered federal funds and had sought to run for office
in Southern California. He was forced to withdraw, even after his name was placed on the ballot.
There is room for argument concerning rank and file federal employees
and the question about how far away from the “electioneering” line they
should stay. But, the U.S. Attorney has to enforce these laws. In this
case, Duffy has not only crossed the line of appropriate behavior by
participating in the election. She has added an element of sleaze to the
story by participating in what appears to be an orchestrated leak of a
“private” email clearly designed to benefit the candidate she has
supported financially.
Read the full article here.
No comments:
Post a Comment