On Friday, the Southwest Public Policy Institute (SPPI) filed a Hatch Act complaint against Joe Biden’s Department of Interior Secretary after she was spotted campaigning in New Mexico and endorsing Democrat candidates — a violation of the rules of the Act.
The group explained the Hatch Act and its meaning, writing, “The Hatch Act of 1939, An Act to Prevent Pernicious Political Activities, includes provisions that prohibit civil service employees in the federal government’s executive branch from engaging in certain forms of political activity. The law was named for Senator Carl Hatch of New Mexico, highlighting an essential connection to Secretary Deb Haaland.”
The complaint alleges that Secretary Halaand endorsed Democrat Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez of New Mexico’s Third Congressional District. Leger Fernandez is running in a partisan race against Republican nominee Alexis Martinez Johnson in the November 8 election.
“Any perceived favorable treatment of a partisan candidate by a sitting department head is subject to scrutiny,” said SSPI’s president Patrick Brenner. “But we believe that this is a blatant disregard for the provisions set forth by the Hatch Act. We look forward to speedy action taken by the Office of Special Counsel, which confirmed receipt of our complaint.”
The group wrote, “The allegations refer to an endorsement of Leger Fernandez by Haaland on the candidate’s Twitter page, referencing an organizing event listing both individuals as attending.”
“The Hatch Act specifically prohibits most federal employees from using their official authority or influence to interfere with or affect the result of an election. Also, while at work, those same employees are prohibited from using any email account or social media to distribute, send, or forward content that advocates for or against a partisan political party, candidate for partisan political office, or partisan political group.”
Haaland was seen at events on Friday, a workday, campaigning with Democrats at partisan events supporting Democrats such as Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, Rep. Melanie Stansbury, among other far-left partisans.
The complaint was filed on Friday, October 28, 2022.
The complaint comes as Joe Biden’s chief of staff, Ron Klain, was recently found guilty of a Hatch Act violation for promoting partisan candidates while on the job. Klain previously claimed to take the Hatch Act seriously. That was proven to be a lie.