HHS Secretary: Broke Federal Hatch Act Law - to Campaign for Obama this Weekend

by Tim Brown 

On September 13, I wrote concerning the fact that Obama Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius did violate the federal Hatch Act law and has yet to be removed from office. In fact, not only has she not been removed from office, she is being sent back out on the campaign trail!

According to the New Hampshire Union Leader she is now scheduled to travel to New Hampshire this coming weekend at some “grassroots events” with Barack Obama.

The campaign said the Sebelius would be acting in her “personal capacity” for the campaign and not in an “official one.” The campaign also asked media to “refrain from using her official title at the event and in related press reports, and note that we will not be taking questions concerning her official responsibilities.”

The statement from the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) stated the following in their conclusion that Sebelius had violated the Hatch Act:

“The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) sent findings to the President today from its investigation of complaints of prohibited political activity by Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius. OSC concluded that Secretary Sebelius violated the Hatch Act when she made extemporaneous partisan remarks in a speech delivered in her official capacity on February 25, 2012. The Hatch Act prohibits federal employees from using their official authority or influence to affect the outcome of an election.”

So let’s get this straight. The Secretarty of Health and Human Services violates federal law, invesitgators determined that she violated federal law and the Obama administration says, “Yeah that’s ok, federal law is a bit outdated anyways (except for gun control). We’ll just send Sebelius up to New Hampshire for the weekend to campaign for us in her ‘personal capacity.’”

Sebelius got into trouble by making the following statement, in her official capacity, in February:

“One of the imperatives is to make sure that we not only come together here in Charlotte to present the nomination to the president, but we make sure that in November, he continues to be president for another four years.”

I’m curious to know how many people in New Hampshire will turn out for this little shindig and “boo” and protest Sebelius not facing criminal charges and being arrested. I’m guessing not many. I’m also curious who will be covering her travel expenses. Knowing this administration it will be the taxpayers.