Tara Copp, The Washington Post; Hegseth draws fire after using government resources for partisan video
"Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s use of government employees and taxpayer-funded resources to create a self-promoting video attacking Democrats and other political opponents probably violated federal law, government watchdogs said Friday...
Hegseth’s office confirmed Friday that the video was recorded and produced by Defense Department staff, but declined to address questions about cost and whether it was reviewed for compliance with the federal government’s legal and ethical guidelines.
“The pro-Trump and self-laudatory remarks in the video are clear violations of the ban on using federal funds for propaganda, the specific and repeated mentions of funding bills violates the anti-lobbying statute, and the blatant effort to oppose the Democrats’ agenda for accountability is a potential violation of the Hatch Act,” said Donald K. Sherman, president of the nonpartisan government accountability organization Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.
Abigail Bellows of Common Cause, another nonpartisan government watchdog, concurred. Using social media “to criticize Democrats, whether it’s because he’s re-auditioning for his job or any other reason,” is a violation of the law, she said.
Under the Hatch Act, federal employees — including Cabinet secretaries like Hegseth — are prohibited from engaging in “activity directed at the success or failure of a political party, [or] candidate for partisan political office” while the employee is on duty or in any federal room or building. The law also bars political appointees and the civilian staff working under them from using social media to advocate for or against a political party."
