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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.
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!
Tell Congress: Investigate White House violations of federal laws!
Thanks for taking action,
Julia and the team at Demand Progress
Sources:
1. Vox, "Trump's RNC speech used the White House as a political prop," August 28, 2020.
2. Politico, "Meadows dismisses Hatch Act concerns at RNC: 'Nobody outside of the Beltway really cares'," August 26, 2020.
3. Washington Post, "What is the Hatch Act?,"June 13, 2019.
4. Politico, "State Department memo warned Senate-approved officials against appearing at partisan events," August 24, 2020.
5. The Daily Beast, "House Panel Investigating Whether Pompeo's RNC Speech Violated Law," August 25, 2020.
6. Ibid.
7. Business Insider, "Trump aides proud to violate Hatch Act ethics laws: Reports," August 26, 2020.
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