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MrWowWow

(1,461 posts)

7. Nice Sentiment. Just Get the Epstein Files Released (and Unredacted) for Now

Thu Oct 2, 2025, 06:05 PM

Oct 2

Have never seen any President successfully prosecuted for violating the Hatch Act.
_______________________
No sitting U.S. president has ever been successfully prosecuted for violating the Hatch Act.

Here’s why:

The Hatch Act of 1939 restricts partisan political activity by federal employees, but the President and Vice President are explicitly exempt from its provisions (5 U.S.C. § 7322 and § 7324).

The Act applies to most executive branch employees, with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) as the enforcing authority. Penalties can include removal, demotion, or fines — but not criminal prosecution.

Because the law does not cover the President, there has never been a prosecution of a sitting president for a Hatch Act violation.

However, administrations have often been accused of Hatch Act violations. For example:

Trump officials (Kellyanne Conway, Mike Pompeo, others) were cited by the OSC for repeated violations.

Obama officials (Kathleen Sebelius, Julián Castro) also received Hatch Act warnings.

But again — these do not apply to the president himself.

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brakester

33 replies

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Highlight:

Jamie Raskin's response to the propaganda on federal agency websites [View all] choie Oct 2 OP

Kick SheltieLover Oct 2 #1

And nothing will come of this Diraven Oct 2 #2

+1 dalton99a Oct 2 #3

Not sure Hatch Act has ever been enforced. It's essentially toothless. Silent Type Oct 2 #8

No time like the present. choie Oct 2 #17

Remember Al Gore Diraven Oct 3 #26

They'll care if Dems do it maxsolomon Oct 3 #33

What we need is an unpretentious pterodactyl to scoop trump GreenWave Oct 3 #29

I sure as hell hope they plan on suing the administration. choie Oct 2 #13

I received this email from the VA LogDog75 Oct 2 #4

You should forward that to Raskin dweller Oct 2 #6

Your last paragraph is correct. Boomerproud Oct 2 #19

Laws don't apply to trmp. spanone Oct 2 #5

Nice Sentiment. Just Get the Epstein Files Released (and Unredacted) for Now MrWowWow Oct 2 #7

But it was someone in the VA that sent out that message LogDog75 Oct 2 #9

I don't care if it doesn't apply to the president. choie Oct 2 #18

Raskin is right. Now what ancianita Oct 2 #10

It's a blatant violation. Put it on the list for 2029. . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Oct 2 #11

Yep. That's about the best we can do. paleotn Oct 2 #12

Remember, the PedoPres brakester Oct 3 #30

And any person with two or more neurons to rub together know damned well... the nelm Oct 2 #14

I wonder if the victims could sue for misrepresentation. . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Oct 2 #15

drumpf and his people don't GAF JoseBalow Oct 2 #16

Thank you for posting this!! Sparkly Oct 2 #20

I'm sure AG Blondie will get right on it. surfered Oct 2 #21

Looks like a naked violation? Gimpyknee Oct 2 #22

Thank you, Jamie Raskin! yellow dahlia Oct 2 #23

In his first administration. . . Jimvanhise Oct 3 #24

My very first day in a Federal job, I was personally instructed in the Hatch Act by the manager of the facility. Midnight Writer Oct 3 #25

And nothing will be done about it because the party in power doesn't give a flying fuck how many laws this SamKnause Oct 3 #27

Hatch Act gfarber Oct 3 #28

Good one, brakester Oct 3 #31

Example here malaise Oct 3 #32