Fudge joined White House press secretary Jen Psaki at Thursday’s briefing, where she was asked about the special election to fill her now vacant seat in Congress.
Although Fudge declined to comment on the House dispute, she told reporters that she thought Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley and US Representative Tim Ryan, both Democrats, were strong candidates for the Republican Senator’s seat. Rob Portman, who announced in January that he will not seek re-election when his current term ends in 2022.
“I think we’re going to put a good person in this race, no matter who we choose, but the two are friends,” said Fudge, adding, “I think we have a good chance at that. I know people wrote outside Ohio. I didn’t rule out Ohio. I believe that we can win the race for the Senate. “
According to the US Office of Special Counsel, the agency charged with investigating Hatch Act violations, the rule prohibits federal employees from “using their official titles or positions while engaged in political activities”, including “any activity aimed at success” or failure of a political party, candidate for a political party or political party. “
An OSC spokesman told CNN on Friday that the office was unable to comment or confirm whether an investigation was opened into Fudge’s comments. A HUD spokesman told CNN on Friday that the agency did not comment. The White House declined to comment on Friday.
“The Hatch Act prohibits officers from advocating for or against candidates in a party political election in their official capacity,” Jordan Libowitz, who serves as communications director for the non-partisan organization Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, told CNN on Friday. “Talking about which candidates can win elections enters dangerous territory. Our legal team is currently looking into this situation for a possible violation, but whether or not it would be better for cabinet secretaries to avoid the issue entirely.”
The Washington Post first reported on the possible violation of the Fudge Hatch Act on Friday.
Under former President Donald Trump, the White House routinely ignored violations of the Hatch Act, especially from senior adviser Kellyanne Conway, who violated the rule so often that the Special Council Office recommended that it be removed from federal service. Several former Trump officials – including his business adviser Peter Navarro, former Attorney General William Barr, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, then DHS Acting Secretary Chad Wolf and former Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue – they were all criticized for violating the law, although none were ever reprimanded.
The office also investigated whether Trump’s speech at the Republican National Convention, which was delivered at the White House last August, came into conflict with the act, although he concluded that it was not, since Trump, as president, was exempt.
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