The Obama White House is offering special treatment to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in the wake of the news yesterday afternoon that President Barack Obama's cabinet official violated the Hatch Act -- activity that is illegal and normally results in the offender's termination from government employment, the Daily Caller website reports today (September 13, 2012).
White House spokesman Eric Schultz -- in responding to the revelation that Sebelius violated the Hatch Act -- said, "The U.S. Treasury has been reimbursed, and Secretary Sebelius has met with ethics experts to ensure this never happens again."
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) said yesterday that Sebelius violated the law when she publicly endorsed President Barack Obama's re-election during a taxpayer-funded public event on February 25, 2012.
Dan Epstein -- the president of the government watchdog group Cause of Action -- said "that by close of business on September 12, 2012, the president has been informed of a Hatch Act violation and yet has decided not to fire Sebelius. The president has therefore decided to overlook the improper political activities of his appointees when in their official capacities. He has effectively said it is OK to politicize the executive branch."
It is unclear what punishment Sebelius will face, as Obama has to decide. But according to law firm Tully Rinckey PLLC (Professional Limited Liability Company), when federal employees violate the Hatch Act, the standard punishment is termination.
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