Federal Agency Alleges White House Official Violated Hatch Act

November 7, 2024 TruthUSA

Advisor Neera Tanden allegedly used her X account to promote solicitations for Democratic candidates, as reported by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel.

A federal investigative agency is urging disciplinary action for Neera Tanden, who currently serves as one of President Joe Biden’s domestic policy advisors, for violating a law prohibiting solicitations for partisan political candidates.

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) announced the complaint on Nov. 7, citing recent posts by Tanden on the social media platform X. According to the agency’s complaint, Tanden breached the Hatch Act by sharing solicitations for donations to Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign and various Democratic congressional candidates.

Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger stated, “Congress established a rule prohibiting all federal employees from fundraising for political candidates. The Hatch Act does not offer any exemptions for White House officials.”

The White House did not respond to The Epoch Times’ request for comment prior to publication. According to Politico, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates mentioned that Tanden takes Hatch Act compliance seriously.

Tanden previously served as White House staff secretary before being elevated by Biden to her current position as domestic policy advisor. While Biden initially nominated her to lead the Office of Management and Budget, she eventually withdrew amidst scrutiny of her social media activity.

In a complaint filed on Nov. 6, the special counsel office notified the White House Counsel’s Office on Aug. 30 of Tanden’s Hatch Act violation following a post two days earlier endorsing four U.S. House of Representatives candidates.

Tanden subsequently removed the post on Sept. 3 but later reposted a video of actor Michael Keaton soliciting funds for Sen. Bob Casey’s reelection campaign. Following this, Tanden’s posts promoted donations for Democrat Lucas Kunce, aiming to unseat Sen. Josh Hawley; Democrat Rebecca Cooke from Wisconsin; and Democrat Will Rollins from California.

“Each of Tanden’s subsequent posts … was made after she was alerted to the Hatch Act violation for soliciting political contributions,” as stated in the OSC’s complaint.

The OSC’s complaint called for the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) to penalize Tanden under federal law, which allows for removal, suspension, monetary fines, or “reprimand” as potential penalties.

Bates referenced a 2021 report where the special counsel office raised constitutional concerns regarding MSPB disciplining individuals directly appointed by the president. The report specified that for presidential appointees, the OSC is obligated to report findings to the president for appropriate action.

In response to alleged Hatch Act violations by Kellyanne Conway, former counselor to then-President Donald Trump, the OSC opted to report to the president instead. The agency stated it concluded its investigation into Conway in 2018.

The OSC did not respond to The Epoch Times’ request for comment prior to publication.

In September, the OSC announced submitting a report to Biden concerning an alleged Hatch Act violation by Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, who expressed support for Biden’s re-election.

The agency also reached settlement agreements, including unpaid suspensions, with an employee in the Department of Commerce and a U.S. attorney’s office.

“While OSC encounters some close calls in Hatch Act enforcement, federal employees soliciting donations for a political campaign constitutes express advocacy and a clear violation,” Dellinger highlighted in the announcement. “We urge federal employees not to cross this line.”

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