A Federal Election Commission attorney has resigned after the employee tweeted “dozens of partisan political tweets,” including soliciting campaign contributions for President Obama’s 2012 election, according to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel.
The unnamed FEC attorney also participated in a Huffington Post Live internet broadcast using a webcam in an FEC facility. During the broadcast, the employee criticized the GOP and then-Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
Tuesday, the OSC announced a settlement with the offending FEC employee following an investigation of the employee’s violations of the Hatch Act, which bans all federal employees from engaging in political activity while on duty or in the workplace.
After the joint investigation between the OSC and the FEC Office of Inspector General the FEC attorney admitted to the violations.
In accordance with the agreement, the attorney agreed to resign and is further prohibited from employment in the federal executive branch for two years after admitting to violating the Hatch Act.
Also Tuesday, the Office of Special Counsel announced that under another settlement agreement with the OSC, a federal civilian employee with the U.S. Air Force has agreed to serve a 40-day suspension without pay for violations of the Hatch Act.
According to OSC, while on duty in the months leading up to the 2012 election, the employee sent “numerous” political emails on a government account to up to 60 federal employee expressing opposition to the Democratic Party and President Obama.
Even after multiple complaints to supervisors and two warnings, the employee continued to send out political emails opposing Obama and his campaign. The employee did not even stop after being informed the OSC had started an investigation into the activity and reminders about the repercussions for violating the Hatch Act.
