Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin

(107,063 posts)
Thu Aug 13, 2020, 07:13 PM Aug 2020

Federal watchdog says Trump can give convention speech at White House

Source: CBS News

Washington — The U.S. Office of Special Counsel confirmed federal law does not preclude President Trump from delivering a speech at the White House to accept the GOP's presidential nomination during this month's Republican National Convention.

The guidance from the agency came in an advisory opinion issued in response to a request from Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney of New York, the chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, concerning the Hatch Act, a federal law that governs the political activity of executive branch employees. The Office of Special Counsel is an independent agency responsible for enforcing the Hatch Act and other laws concerning federal employees.

"The president and the vice president are not covered by any provisions of the Hatch Act," Erica Hamrick, deputy chief of the office's Hatch Act Unit, told Maloney in a letter Wednesday. "Accordingly, the Hatch Act does not prohibit President Trump from delivering his RNC acceptance speech on White House grounds."

After the coronavirus pandemic forced Mr. Trump to abandon plans for convention festivities, including his acceptance speech, in Jacksonville, Florida, he said last week he narrowed down possible sites for the address to the White House and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.



Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/federal-watchdog-says-trump-can-give-convention-speech-at-white-house/ar-BB17VbDH?li=BBnb7Kz

16 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,270 posts)
1. That's true. But the Hatch Act applies to all other federal employees.
Thu Aug 13, 2020, 07:16 PM
Aug 2020

So any WH staffer who participated in setting up or assisting His Lardship with the speech would be violating the law.

kiri

(786 posts)
14. Create gridlock
Thu Aug 13, 2020, 09:53 PM
Aug 2020

In DC or Gettysburg, we need 1000 cars and vans, 100 motorcycles, and 20 food trucks, to come the night before and occupy all the roads, create long lines everywhere.

At every intersection, block the box. You can't move cars out if there is no place to put them. ½ hr to move one car-length.

If trumpino calls out the national guard, it will only make the situation worse. His motorcade of 10 SUVs will never get there.

Nothing illegal here, just a whole lot of cars, traffic jams, and gridlock.

Jedi Guy

(3,171 posts)
15. That'd accomplish absolutely nothing.
Thu Aug 13, 2020, 11:18 PM
Aug 2020

He'd simply get into Marine One and fly there. All it'd do is inconvenience and piss off the people who live there.

EarlG

(21,889 posts)
3. The President and Vice President aren't covered by the Hatch Act but
Thu Aug 13, 2020, 07:18 PM
Aug 2020

any White House employee who helps set up or manage this event in any way would be breaking the law.

Not that they care.

EarlG

(21,889 posts)
9. I dunno...
Thu Aug 13, 2020, 07:46 PM
Aug 2020

The list of prohibited activities for “less restricted” people still looks pretty restrictive...

TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)
11. Basically, they can't actively campaign, and setting up the lights isn't campaigning. But...
Thu Aug 13, 2020, 07:50 PM
Aug 2020

even if it were, who's gonna do anything but whine about it?

EarlG

(21,889 posts)
12. Looks to me like they're not allowed to do anything to help set up the event
Thu Aug 13, 2020, 07:57 PM
Aug 2020

"Less restricted federal employees may not: ... Engage in political activity – i.e., activity directed at the success or failure of a political party, candidate for partisan political office, or partisan political group ... For example, while at work employees may not: Distribute campaign materials or items, display campaign materials or items, perform campaign related chores..."

But yeah, either way, nobody is going to care.

MissMillie

(38,452 posts)
16. I'm with you
Fri Aug 14, 2020, 10:18 AM
Aug 2020

Maybe one more image of the White House with a big turd in it will remind voters to pick up their pooper-scooper.

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Federal watchdog says Tru...