Investigators: Sebelius Illegally Campaigned on Taxpayer’s Dime

The Heritage Network ^ | 9/12/12 | Lachlan Markay

[KansasGirl]

Independent federal legal officials have concluded that Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius violated federal law by conducting political activity at an official (and hence taxpayer funded) event, according to a statement released on Wednesday.

“Sebelius violated the Hatch Act when she made extemporaneous partisan remarks in a speech delivered in her official capacity on February 25, 2012,” the news release from the U.S. Office of Special Council states.

"The Hatch Act prohibits federal employees from using their official authority or influence to affect the outcome of an election. A federal employee is permitted to make partisan remarks when speaking in their personal capacity, but not when using their official title or when speaking about agency business."

Snip

The Obama administration’s decision to allow cabinet secretaries such as Sebelius to speak at events sponsored by large Democratic electioneering groups has raised other Hatch Act concerns.

[GeronL]

This should force her to resign but I doubt the MSM makes a deal out of this

[Iron Munro]

Laws are for republicans and other peons.

Democrats are above the law.

[detective]

She should be prosecuted. It will have to wait until after the election.

[exnavy]

The entire democrat party should be in jail.

[JohnnyP]

What’s the maximum penalty for violating the Hatch act? Once you are in office it doesn’t matter, just pay the damn fine.

[ltc8k6]

Apparently, reclassifying the trip after you break the law makes it okay.

These violations are referred to the President for punishment, so don’t anyone wait up for any announcements...

[smoothsailing]

After the event, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reclassified the trip from official to political and issued a statement to that effect. Secretary Sebelius and HHS reimbursed the U.S. Treasury for all costs and expenses associated with her travel to the event. OSC found no evidence that Secretary Sebelius made any other political statements in her official capacity.

This stinks. Why would HHS reimburse anything? Shouldn't the wretched Sebelius woman bear the full cost from her own pocket?

[afraidfortherepublic]

Jail her!

[Vigilanteman]

A former GOP state senator in Pennsylvania (prosecuted by a GOP attorney general) will be serving hard prison time for doing exactly the same thing.

Somehow, I don't see the same law being applied to Sebelius.

[boomop1]

A big, so what, nothing will come of it.

[TribalPrincess2U]

Seems I have heard that before with someone else.

[A Navy Vet]

What a surprise from one of the most corrupt/socialist/controlling Executive Administrations. These people not only don't understand the concept of integrity (self-honesty), but shame is not in their vocabulary.

And Rahm Emmanuel (Bambi's chief-of-staff) continues to sit by in Chicago while they have one of the highest crimes rates.

[Rapscallion]

Back when the Executive Branch was more moral and law abiding I saw people dismissed from federal employment for Hatch Act violations.