Public Citizen accuses Attorney General Todd Blanche of Hatch Act breach at NY rally
The nonprofit Public Citizen has asked the Office of Special Counsel to investigate Attorney General Todd Blanche for allegedly violating Hatch Act rules during a Long Island campaign event.
A public-interest organization, Public Citizen, filed a formal request for the Office of Special Counsel to probe Attorney General Todd Blanche over a possible Hatch Act violation. The allegation stems from an August 14 speech Blanche delivered at a Long Island rally that featured police officers supporting Republican gubernatorial hopeful Bruce Blakeman and included Donald Trump, which the nonprofit says constitutes an official endorsement.
Public Citizen notes that DOJ policy lists Blanche as a “further restricted employee,” a category barred from partisan political activity while acting in an official role. The Justice Department responded that the complaint is a partisan attempt to weaponize the Hatch Act and called it baseless. The Office of Special Counsel has not provided a comment, and the filing follows other recent Hatch Act complaints targeting officials such as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Labor Department inspector general Anthony D’Esposito. Penalties for violations can range from demotion to removal from federal service.
Why it matters
It raises questions about the political neutrality of top law-enforcement officials and potential enforcement of federal ethics rules.
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