The U.S. Office of the Special Counsel (OSC), a federal government watchdog, has determined that six top Trump administration officials violated federal law. The ruling comes in response to complaints filed by CREW, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a non-profit that monitors federal government actions.
Among those found in violation of the Hatch Act are Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah (photo), White House Deputy Director of Communications Jessica Ditto, President Trump’s executive assistant Madeleline Westerhoust, Vice President Pence’s Press Secretary Alyssa Farah, Deputy Communications Director for the Office of Management and Budget Jacob Wood, and (now former) Special Assistant to the President and Director of Media AffairsHelen Aguirre Ferré.
The Hill first reported the OSC’s ruling. The OSC is not the same as Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s office.
“The Hatch Act restricts certain political activities of federal executive branch employees” from “using their official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election,” the OSC explains in its ruling.
The OSC did not recommend disciplinary action, noting the offending parties had subsequently been warned.
CREW had submitted ten complaints, four of which the OSC ruled were not sufficient to warrant a ruling of having violated there Hatch Act.
Other Trump administration officials found to have violated the Hatch Act include Kellyanne Conway and Dan Scavino.