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[MIMIC]

Nikki Haley hit for Hatch Act violation over Trump retweet

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley violated the law by retweeting President Donald Trump’s endorsement of a South Carolina congressional candidate, according to the federal Office of Special Counsel.

Haley’s June Twitter post from her personal account marks the second time this year that a top Trump aide has run afoul of the Hatch Act, a Depression-era law that regulates campaigning by government officials.

While the flagged message circulated from @nikkihaley, which isn’t Haley’s official ambassador account, the Office of Special Counsel determined her decision to repost a presidential message supporting Republican House candidate Ralph Norman still “gave the impression that she was acting in her official capacity.”

Haley’s personal page at the time of the post included an official government headshot with the American flag behind her, as well as a picture at the White House with Trump and other members of the U.N. Security Council. Many of Haley’s Twitter posts also covered official matters, and the official homepage of the U.S. Mission to the United Nations included a link back to her personal Twitter account, wrote Erica Hamrick, the deputy chief of the Office of Special Council’s Hatch Act Unit, in a September 28 letter to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, the government watchdog that first flagged the tweet.

Haley has since deleted her June 19 retweet after she became aware of the potential violation, and the Office of Special Counsel said it found no evidence she engaged in any additional prohibited political activity on Twitter. Haley will not face any penalties over the retweet, and Hamrick said she had closed Haley’s file.

And here's the first (official) violation:

Haley’s Hatch Act violation isn’t the first ethical or legal lapse for Trump’s administration. White House social media director Dan Scavino got flagged for his own Hatch Act violation in June for a Twitter post that called on Trump allies to launch a primary challenge against Michigan GOP Rep. Justin Amash.

And don't forget Kellyanne's promotional tour of the Ivanka fashion line. And like they say, when it comes to ethics, everyone is following the leader:

“One is unfortunate, two is a coincidence, but three in less than a year is a pattern,” said Noah Bookbinder, CREW’s executive director, who blamed the Haley, Scavino and Conway lapses on Trump. “This all stems from the president’s permissive attitude toward ethics. The tone is set at the top.”

-Politico

 

[Stinkles]

Is this one of them thar Swamp Things?

 

[Skellig Gra]

So no actual repercussions?

 

[thecouncil]

They're ALL new at this, ok?

 

[FullMetaltech]

So no actual repercussions?

Nope. The bolded text at the bottom first paragraph says no charges.

 

[Darknight]

Who watches the Watchmen?

 

[Velocity:Design:Comfort]

Why do these people have no consequences?

 

[linkboy]

Why do these people have no consequences?

Because they have no ethics or moral compass and they're calling the shots.

 

[lupinko]

Who watches the Watchmen?

Coast guard?

 

[sfedai0]

Ethics? Is that some sort of vegetable?

 

[smokeandmirrors]

Why do these people have no consequences?

Republicans

 

[bob_arctor]

Coast guard?

"I'm Air Force, sir."

 

[norm9]

We've all made mistakes at work. I misspell words in emails, she violates laws.

 

[JABEE]

Why do these people have no consequences?

Because we have a permissive legislative branch that forfeits all ethical responsibilities as well. The do-nothing Congress allows the President to march around without care due to blatant partisanship and vote counting.

Trump's Presidency really shows how few checks we have on the President and his agents. It takes a true buffoonish clown to lift the veil on the scandalous ways a President can abuse his/her power without any enforcement body levying real penalties or injunctions.

 

[WedgeX]

An actual Hatch Act violation and no consequences?

 

[Wilsongt]

So this comes out after it was reported she voted No to ban prosecution of gays.

Good job, Haley.

 

[Velocity:Design:Comfort]

Because they have no ethics or moral compass and they're calling the shots.

I guess the better question is, in the less corrupt past, who thought it was ok to make ethics rules optional? Even for the executive branch. Or is this something congress would normally investigate?

 

[entremet]

So no actual repercussions?

You should know by now lol.

 

[GaimeGuy]

I guess the better question is, in the less corrupt past, who thought it was ok to make ethics rules optional? Even for the executive branch. Or is this something congress would normally investigate?

It is up to congress to oversee the conduct of the executive and judicial branches.

The current congress is run by Republicans, though, and they do not hold each other accountable.

 

[Velocity:Design:Comfort]

It is up to congress to oversee the conduct of the executive and judicial branches.

The current congress is run by Republicans, though, and they do not hold each other accountable.

But what was put in as checks and balances in cases like this? Is there really no body that can operate apolitically when real crimes are violated openly?

 

[Zolo]

But what was put in as checks and balances in cases like this? Is there really no body that can operate apolitically when real crimes are violated openly?

The voters can vote in new people to bring back order.

 

[linkboy]

But what was put in as checks and balances in cases like this? Is there really no body that can operate apolitically when real crimes are violated openly?

The system is basically broken. It's not operating how it was designed. The checks and balances that are supposed to be in place aren't because the GOP has no morals or ethics and basically doesn't give two shits about anything but themselves and maintaining power.