Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro was found to have violated the Hatch Act, a federal law against politicking in office, during an official visit to the United Kingdom in January, according to a report by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC).
The OSC report, released on Sept. 5, states that Del Toro made statements endorsing President Joe Biden’s reelection during the visit. Special counsel Hampton Dellinger concluded that these remarks breached the Hatch Act, which aims to prevent federal employees from mixing official work with political advocacy.
Del Toro’s comments were made during a speech at the Royal United Services Institute on Jan. 25, where he expressed support for Biden’s leadership and highlighted the importance of democracy. The OSC report criticized Del Toro for taking a partisan stance and engaging in political activity while on official travel.
In response to the OSC report, Del Toro’s attorney Michael Bromwich argued that the comments were spontaneous and not premeditated. However, Dellinger maintained that Del Toro’s remarks constituted political activity and violated the Hatch Act.
The Defense Department is currently reviewing the matter, according to Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh. She emphasized the importance of avoiding actions that could suggest military support for any political party or candidate, especially during the election season.
Despite the OSC’s findings, Bromwich defended Del Toro’s comments, stating that they were not intended to influence the election and were made to a foreign audience. The White House has not yet provided a response to the OSC report.
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