A group of U.S. Representatives has sent a letter to the USDA Office of Ethics, calling for a potential Hatch Act violation against USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue.
The representatives claim Perdue made political statements promoting President Donald Trump’s reelection at an official government event.
“Specifically, while standing alongside President Trump, the secretary stated, ‘Mr. President, as you saw those throngs of people lining both sides of the road from the airport all the way to Mills River here, those were those forgotten people that voted for you for 2016. And I’ve got better news for you: They and many others are gonna vote for you for four more years in 2020.’ We believe engaging in such political activity while acting in his official capacity is a blatant violation of federal law under the Hatch Act,” the letter read.
The Hatch Act prohibits executive branch employees from using their position to influence an election.
