Agency says Perdue violated Hatch Act


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Agency says Perdue violated Hatch Act

A federal independent watchdog agency says U.S. Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue must pay for a recent trip promoting the Farmers to Families Food Box Program after being found in violation of the Hatch Act.

The HATCH Act restricts certain political activities of federal executive branch employees, including the Ag Secretary.

In August, Perdue spoke at a food box event in North Carolina and the U.S. Office of Special Counsel says he encouraged participants to vote for President Trump’s reelection and started his comments about the president’s 2016 and 2020 campaigns.

The group says while Perdue has the First Amendment right to campaign for the president on his own time, he has no such right to do so in his official capacity and at taxpayer expense.

The review was made at the request of several House Democrats and led by Congresswoman Marcia Fudge of Ohio.

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