Advisor Neera Tanden illegally used her X account to promote solicitations for Democratic candidates, said the U.S. Office of Special Counsel.
A federal investigative agency is requesting disciplinary action for Neera Tanden, who serves as one of President Joe Biden’s domestic policy advisors, over her allegedly violating a law that prohibits solicitations for partisan political candidates.
“Congress created a rule banning all federal employees from fundraising for political candidates,“ Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger said. “The Hatch Act contains no escape hatch for White House officials.”
In its Nov. 6 complaint, the special counsel office said it notified the White House Counsel’s Office on Aug. 30 that Tanden was in violation of the Hatch Act after her post two days prior promoting four candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Tanden eventually removed that post on Sept. 3 but two days later reposted a video of actor Michael Keaton asking for funds to support Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) in his campaign for reelection, the complaint said. In September, subsequent posts from Tanden promoted solicitations for Democrat Lucas Kunce, who was running to unseat Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.); Democratic House candidate Rebecca Cooke of Wisconsin; and Democratic House candidate Will Rollins of California.
“Each of Tanden’s three subsequent posts … was also made after Tanden was notified that making such posts violated the Hatch Act prohibition against soliciting political contributions,” the OSC’s complaint read.
The OSC’s complaint requested that the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) penalize Tanden under a federal law that outlines removal, suspension, monetary fines, or “reprimand” as potential punishments.
For both types of appointees, the OSC said it “must report its findings to the president” and allow the president to take appropriate action.
“Considering the president’s constitutional authority, the proper course of action, in the case of violations of the Hatch Act by such officers, is to refer the violations to the president,” its report to Trump said at the time.
The OSC did not respond to The Epoch Times’ request for comment before publishing time.
The agency added that it reached settlement agreements entailing unpaid suspensions for an employee within the Department of Commerce and a U.S. attorney’s office.
“While OSC deals with some close calls in its Hatch Act enforcement, federal employees soliciting donations for a political campaign is express advocacy and a clear-cut violation,“ Dellinger said as part of the announcement. ”We urge federal employees not to cross these brightest of lines.”
