Thread by @propublica

Lotttttts of talk here about the Hatch Act and the Trump clan’s many possible violations.

But what does that actually mean?

What is the Hatch Act supposed to prevent?

👇Stuff like this, for starters, according to Congressional Democrats.

(a thread)

👆 Printed on White House letterhead in both English and Spanish, the letter was included in some @USDA food aid packages — delivered to food-insecure Americans across the country.

You’ll notice it’s quite confident in the administration’s pandemic response.

But first, a two-tweet history lesson:

1) The Hatch Act stems from a 1939 scandal — Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration was forced to work on campaigns that he supported.

Democrat Carl Hatch — “Cowboy Carl” — wasn’t having it.

2) So, he introduced the “Act to Purify Politics” AKA the “Act to Prevent Pernicious Political Activities” AKA The Hatch Act.

The main idea: If your job is to work for the public, you shouldn’t be campaigning, or pressured to campaign for somebody on the public dime.

Voila.

Back to 2020.

The Hatch Act contains exceptions for the President, VP and certain advisers. These people can campaign, but can’t use their official position to promote someone’s candidacy.

INCLUDING: Using the White House or its grounds.

So. While the letter may not technically be a violation of ***The Hatch Act*** proper, it’s unquestionably an(other) example of Trump using his office to help his own campaign for reelection.

That’s what’s important here.

Also, it’s part of a pattern:

Trump’s crew seems to have adopted violating this separation as a key campaign strategy.

Take, for example: Kellyanne Conway.

Conway, whose salary is paid by taxpayers, has violated the law at least 27 times. Federal investigators describe her violations "egregious, notorious, and ongoing."

She is just one of 13 Trump administration officials who have been cited for Hatch Act violations.

By Trump, Inc.’s count, Trump campaigned during at least half of his official White House events From May through early August.

Every time he uses staff at the WH or during travel to promote his campaign, they could be in violation of the Hatch Act.

wnycstudios.org/podcasts/trump…

So, back to that letter…

If you received a paper stimulus check earlier this year, perhaps this letter looks familiar.

The signature certainly does.

Experts were concerned about that, too, if you’ll recall.
propub.li/31NA3ux

(The @WhiteHouse and the @USDA didn’t respond to questions from @ProPublica for this story.)

Special thanks to @andreaWNYC who's been hounding WH officials' violations of the Hatch Act.

Check out @ProPublica and @WNYC’s joint podcast looking into Trump family business past and present, Trump, Inc. wnycstudios.org/podcasts/trump…

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