Special Counsel to Trump: Punish Navarro for Hatch Act violations
By: DOUG PALMER - POLITICO
White House trade adviser Peter Navarro also made frequent use of his Twitter account to attack both Biden and Harris
Gee... Peter Navarro broke the law...
Gosh.
I'm sure the President will react with severity...
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
White House trade adviser Peter Navarro speaks with reporters at the White House. | AP Photo/Alex Brandon
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel on Monday urged President Donald Trump to take "appropriate disciplinary action," such as a fine or removal from office, against White House trade adviser Peter Navarro for violating the Hatch Act.
"From May 26 through October 19, 2020, during at least six media interviews where he appeared in his official capacity as Assistant to the President and Director of the Office on Trade and Manufacturing Policy, Dr. Navarro repeatedly attacked presidential candidate Joe Biden and/or vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris," the office said in a report to Trump.
Navarro also made frequent use of his Twitter account to attack both Biden and Harris. The Hatch Act bars White House and other executive branch officials from engaging in political activity.
"He committed these violations after having received training on the Hatch Act and, for most of the violations, while knowing that OSC was investigating him for engaging in the same prohibited political activity," the report said.
The Office of Special Counsel is an independent federal investigative and prosecutorial agency, whose responsibilities include enforcing the Hatch Act. Navarro did not provide a formal response to the report, and the White House did not respond to a request for comment.
Under the relevant statute, the punishments for a Hatch Act violation can include removal from office, a reduction in grade, debarment from federal employment for up to five years, suspension or reprimand. Navarro could also face a fine of up to $1,000 or some combination of a fine and employment action.
However, it's far from certain that Trump will take any action against Navarro during the six to seven weeks they have left in office. Trump refused to fire senior adviser Kellyanne Conway after the OSC recommended that he take that action for her repeatedly breaking the Hatch Act.
Others in the administration have also come under the Special Counsel's scrutiny for activities that appeared to cross the line in support of Trump's reelection.
OSC ordered Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue in October to reimburse taxpayers for using an official event to promote Trump's reelection and is currently investigating Education Secretary Betsy DeVos for remarks she made about Biden in a Fox News interview and later posted on YouTube.
The group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which filed several complaints against Navarro for Hatch Act violations, applauded the Special Counsel's report.
"In an administration full of people illegally using their government positions to influence an election, Navarro has been one of the worst," the group's executive director, Noah Bookbinder, said in a statement.
"This isn't about not knowing better, it is about a lack of interest in following the law, even when the cost to our democracy is severe," he added.
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In an Administration full of drones whose only advantage is their unthinking loyalty to the President... Peter Navarro stands above all the others as the ultimate standard for venality and ignorance.
Peter Navarro was basically a no one in a national sense before Trump and he is one that will revert to being a no one after Trump.
He has no future in mainstream media and I think he has too much ego to go on fringe far right shows on a regular basis. After Jan 20 we will rarely hear his name.
Donald told Jared to recruit an economist who knew something about China.
Jared did an Amazon search, and found Peter Navarro. ... Yes, an Amazon search...
In his books, Navarro often cited a specialist named "Ron Vara"... an anagram for "Navarro".
Navarro joined the Trump campaign is 2016. He has been on Trump's staff since that election.
An Amazon search???
If my boss told me to find an economist who knew something about China, I think I would start with the University of Chicago...I hear they have a pretty good Economics department.
Talk about being lazy....
There is strong evidence that he has eaten at a Chinese restaurant. So there is that.
Jared found that Navarro has a dozen books on Amazon, including some about China.
Knowing that Amazon encourages self-publication, I'd be wary. Ah, but what do I know? And Jared is an ever-so-impressive senior advisor to the President.
it's not uncommon for a search on the Amazon, to come across many a various 'Snake'.
Ummmm........ Iggy?
Maybe I'd better explain something...
what an A hole. Hope not related top Dave
Doesn't seem so.
For being critical of political opponents in news interviews? That's it?
Are you sure this Reply belongs in this conversation?
It's right there in the story. This is allegedly how this guy violated the Hatch Act:
So he did six media interviews. By itself, I don't see how a public official doing media interviews could be a violation. Then, apparently, during those interviews he was somehow critical of either Joe Biden or Kamala Harris. I'm being honest when I ask, "so what?"
I would Reply, but the last time I did that, you willfully misquoted me. You have not apologized and you have not rectified. There's no point in addressing me until you do.
You already did. I suspect you just don't like what I had to say. It probably contradicts the political agenda of this seed.
And I'm not going to, because I haven't done anything to you, so you might as well put me on ignore.
You make an absurd claim of mistreatment and then you can avoid addressing the topic. Convenient.
I would Reply, but the last time I did that, you willfully misquoted me. You have not apologized and you have not rectified. There's no point in addressing me until you do.