Hi,
Donald Trump and his administration are systematically violating federal
laws governing political activities -- and it’s time for Congress to stop
them.
When Trump spoke at the Republican convention from the South Lawn of the
White House, that was a violation of federal laws preventing his staff who
set up the speech from using their paid time in an election campaign.^1 It
was just the tip of the iceberg.
Even worse: Trump Administration officials freely admit they're breaking
the law.^2 They don’t care -- because they don’t think anyone will stop
them.
Congress can not stand by as Trump administration officials ignore the law
with impunity.
[ [link removed] ]Sign the Petition: Tell Congress to investigate the Trump
administration for violations of federal law!
Federal laws are intended to prevent elected officials from using public
funds to undertake political activities.^3 But the White House is happy to
use public money on Trump's campaign anyway.
Mike Pompeo approved a State Department memo that prohibited Presidential
appointees––including himself––from attending the Republican National
Convention.^4 Then, on Tuesday, Pompeo delivered a RNC address from
Jerusalem, where he was traveling on behalf of the State Department.^5
Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) announced that the House Foreign Affairs
Committee will be investigating Pompeo.^6 But Pompeo isn't the only Trump
administration official who has appeared to violate the law at the
convention. Chad Wolf, acting secretary of homeland security, held a
"naturalization ceremony" at the White House as part of the convention;
First Lady Melania Trump delivered her convention address from the Rose
Garden.^7
Not only is it impossible to hold events at the White House without
staffing them with federal employees––whose salaries are paid with public
funds––but the scenes depict a White House that belongs to the Republican
Party, not the American people. It's a slap in the face to taxpayers.
Trump's Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows, said in response to the alleged
violations that "nobody outside of the Beltway really cares" about Trump’s
White House violating federal campaign laws Will you take action to tell
Congress: you do care if Trump and his allies are breaking the law to get
re-elected!
[ [link removed] ]Tell Congress: Investigate White House violations of federal laws!
Thanks for taking action,
Julia and the team at Demand Progress
[ [link removed] ]DONATE
Sources:
1. Vox, "Trump's RNC speech used the White House as a political prop,"
[ [link removed] ]August 28, 2020.
2. Politico, "Meadows dismisses Hatch Act concerns at RNC: 'Nobody outside
of the Beltway really cares'," [ [link removed] ]August 26, 2020.
3. Washington Post, "What is the Hatch Act?,"[ [link removed] ]June 13, 2019.
4. Politico, "State Department memo warned Senate-approved officials
against appearing at partisan events," [ [link removed] ]August 24, 2020.
5. The Daily Beast, "House Panel Investigating Whether Pompeo's RNC Speech
Violated Law," [ [link removed] ]August 25, 2020.
6. Ibid.
7. Business Insider, "Trump aides proud to violate Hatch Act ethics laws:
Reports," [ [link removed] ]August 26, 2020.
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