President Joe Biden’s Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm violated the Hatch Act while promoting Democrats last year, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) has determined.
Granholm violated federal law when she encouraged voters to choose Democrat candidates during a late 2021 interview, seven months into her Biden admin job.
The OSC said Granholm explicitly endorsed Democratic Party candidates in her official capacity during an Oct. 6 interview with media outlet Marie Clare.
The special counsel found that she had abused her taxpayer-funded position to help Democrats.
The Foundation for Accountability & Civic Trust (FACT) asked the OSC to investigate the matter.
Erica Hamrick, the deputy chief of the OSC’s Hatch Act Unit, wrote to FACT: “OSC has concluded that Secretary Granholm engaged in political activity when she gave this response promoting the electoral success of the Democratic Party.
“While she then attempted to backpedal by stating that she was using ‘Democrats as a substitute’ for certain policies, at bottom she told listeners that they needed to vote for Democrats so that more Democrats would be elected to pass the legislation they wanted.
“Her attempt to backpedal does not change the meaning of her words or undo the fact that she was talking about the Democratic Party throughout her statement.
“Granholm engaged in activity directed at the success of the Democratic Party and violated the Hatch Act’s use of official authority prohibition.”
FACT Executive Director Kendra Arnold said:
“The Hatch Act is a very important law and it does maintain separation between government politics, and that protects both the citizens’ trust in government and taxpayer funds from abuse.
“So, even though this was a singular finding and a singular interview, it is a really important issue.”
DOE spokesperson told Fox News:
“Secretary Granholm takes her ethics obligations seriously.
“And, she remains laser-focused on delivering President Biden’s equitable clean energy agenda which will help lower energy costs for American families and enhance our nation’s security.”
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The U.S. Office of Special Counsel determined that Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm violated the Hatch Act by endorsing the Democratic Party during a media interview in her official capacity.https://t.co/aqxL1eBlWL
— America Rising (@AmericaRising) June 28, 2022
