Special Counsel: FCC Commissioner O'Rielly Violated Hatch Act

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The US Office of Special Counsel (OSC) has wrapped up its investigation of Federal Communications Commissioner Michael O'Rielly's statements at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Feb. 23, 2018, and concluded he violated the Hatch Act prohibition on certain political activities by federal branch employees. He was issued a warning letter that a repeat of such statements could incur more than a warning.

“I appreciate that OSC recognized that the statement in question was part of an off-the-cuff, unrehearsed response to an impromptu question, and that they found this resolution to be the appropriate consequence," said Commissioner O'Rielly of the warning. "While I am disappointed and disagree that my offhand remark was determined to be a violation, I take their warning letter seriously.”

After he made the comments, the watchdog group American Oversight filed a letter with the Office of Special Counsel, which handles Hatch Act complaints. In response to the group’s letter, the Office of Special Counsel said that Comissioner O’Rielly did, in fact, violate the Hatch Act. 


Special Counsel: FCC Commissioner O'Rielly Violated Hatch Act FCC commissioner broke the law by advocating for Trump, officials find (The Verge)