WASHINGTON (AP) – A federal watchdog agency reported Monday that one of President Donald Trump’s economic advisers, now President-elect Joe Biden, has repeatedly violated the law during the campaign season with his remarks.
The Hatch Act prevents federal employees from participating in political work while performing their official duties. The agency, which is accused of enforcing the act, said Peter Navarro, director of White House Office fees for trade and manufacturing policy, used his position to influence the 2020 presidential election through his television interviews and statements on social media.
“His remarks were directed at undermining Mr Biden’s presidential candidacy and persuading voters not to support him in the 2020 election,” the Special Adviser’s Office said in a report.
The report said White House attorneys insisted that Navarro did not violate the Hatch Act, as factual or policy statements do not advocate against or against the candidate. They argued, for example, that Navarro’s statement about Biden “keeping the Chinese” was appropriate for them to make their official capacity.
But Coun Fees’ special counsel lacked that argument. It said federal employees violate the law when making statements to vote for or against a political office candidate or to encourage others when they promote or discredit a candidate’s campaign.
“Dr Navro violated the Hatch Act because he was too involved in the activity,” the report said.
The report said the limits of the law show that it is up to the president to decide “appropriate disciplinary action”. The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
In Washington, D.C., citizens of the Private Advocacy Group for Responsibility and Ethics said they had submitted a number of complaints about Navarro to the Special Fees of Special Counsel and that “referrals for action show the severity of Navarro’s misconduct.”
Noah Bookbinder, the group’s executive director, said Navarro has been in the worst position in an administration full of people who illegally use their government positions to influence elections.
.
