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[KSweeley]

Link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...tch-act-with-tweet-targeting-gop-congressman/

White House social-media director Dan Scavino Jr. violated a federal law that bars public officials from using their positions for political activity when he urged President Trump's supporters to defeat a GOP congressman, the Office of Special Counsel has concluded.

As a result, Scavino was issued a warning letter and advised that additional violations of the law could result in further action, according to a June 5 letter that the office sent to the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), which filed a complaint about Scavino's tweet.

Scavino's April 1 message called on the “#TrumpTrain” to take out Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) in an upcoming primary, referring to him as “a big liability.” Amash is a member of the House Freedom Caucus, a group that Trump had blamed at the time for derailing legislation that would have repealed parts of the 2010 Affordable Care Act.

Even though Scavino was tweeting from his personal account, his page at the time listed his official White House position and featured a photo of him inside the Oval Office.

The Office of Special Counsel concluded that his tweet violated the Hatch Act, which restricts government employees from attempting to influence an election through their official authority.

“Mr. Scavino has been advised that if in the future he engages in prohibited political activity while employed in a position covered by the Hatch Act, we will consider such activity to be a willful and knowing violation of the law, which could result in further action,” Ana Galindo-Marrone, chief of the office's Hatch Act Unit, wrote in a letter to CREW.

Federal employees who willfully violate the Hatch Act can be removed from their positions or barred from federal employment for up to five years.

CREW Executive Director Noah Bookbinder said in a statement that the rules make clear that “government officials aren’t allowed to use their position for campaign activity.”

“OSC has made clear with this ruling that they are going to enforce these important rules and work to keep the government free from inappropriate politics,” he said.

In April, a White House official had said that Scavino's tweet did not violate the Hatch Act, “as it clearly comes from his personal account and not his official White House account.”

But after complaints about his tweet attacking Amash, Scavino quickly altered details on his personal Twitter page, removing the reference to his current post at the White House and photos of Trump supporters at a rally holding signs. Later, he also removed a reference noting that he was director of social media for Trump's campaign.

Scavino's personal account now features a photo of him golfing, with the simple bio: “Personal Twitter Handle! I will be back.”

 

[TheCochese]

He's a good guy, I hope we can let this go.

 

[FunkyMunkey]

how long has he been involved in politics tho? if it's less than [insert years here ranging from 5 to infinity] then it can't be expected he should know better

 

[Stumpokapow]

So to be clear they established that he factually violated a law, there's no question was to mens rea, and they're letting him off with it because they think he was ignorant of the law? Ignorance of the law is not an excuse.

 

[Netherscourge]

He's new at this. He hasn't been steeped yet.

 

[HStallion]

So to be clear they established that he factually violated a law, there's no question was to mens rea, and they're letting him off with it because they think he was ignorant of the law? Ignorance of the law is not an excuse.

Unless you're a Republican.

 

[Akuun]

At this point, I'd be more surprised to hear if anyone in the White House ISN'T an incompetent, corrupt shithead.

 

[Velocity:Design:Comfort]

So to be clear they established that he factually violated a law, there's no question was to mens rea, and they're letting him off with it because they think he was ignorant of the law? Ignorance of the law is not an excuse.

Politicians and the wealthy are above the law in the US. Republicans are especially above the law. But the fact that people don't realize that this is the fundamental problem (that rule breakers aren't punished) with many aspects of our society and economy is all part of how they get away with it.


It is very ironic how blatantly illegal the actions are of what people call "law and order" governments, on both a statutory and constitutional level. The law and order are only for people they want to suppress.

 

[FullMetaltech]

Unless you're a Republican.

Seems like it. Ignorance is Bliss I tell you.

 

[UnemployedVillain]

As a result, Scavino was issued a warning letter

 

[ErasureAcer]

...and justice for all

 

[ascii42]

So to be clear they established that he factually violated a law, there's no question was to mens rea, and they're letting him off with it because they think he was ignorant of the law? Ignorance of the law is not an excuse.

I work for the DoD, I get countless e-mails about the Hatch Act around every election, and I'm just a software developer. I'm not sure how people in a position to meaningfully violate the Act could not be informed about it. And yes, even if so, ignorance is not an excuse.