A couple notes on the Hatch Act after RNC events showcasing the White House: While there are certainly plentiful opportunities for Hatch Act violations from staffers involved with WH events during this convention, the President and first lady are immune from Hatch Act violations.
But, as we know, there's only one person can enforce any disciplinary actions for employees found by the Office of Special Counsel to be in violation of the Hatch Act, and that is the President himself.
So far, after numerous violations for staffers, including Kellyanne Conway, Stephanie Grisham, Raj Shah, Jessica Ditto, Helen Aguirre Ferré, Jacob Wood and Alyssa Farah, Trump has not taken any disciplinary action.
The 1939 law is supposed to stop the federal govt from affecting elections or going about its activities in a partisan manner, and according to the OSC's own explanation of the rule, it applies to federal employees + state/local employees who work with federally funded programs.
The Hatch Act is an ethics rule, not a law, so there are no legal ramifications here. But ignoring documented violations shows a lack of regard for ethics when it comes to political gain.
Some clarification here on that last tweet -- Hatch Act IS a law. But generally, people found to be in violation of the Hatch Act can be suspended, fired, asked to give a public apology, those kinds of things.
Worth noting Castro and Sebelius, under Obama, were both found to be in violation but did not face disciplinary action. politico.com/story/2016/07/…
