AP source: DHS employee behind racist website

[branford]

27. Not if the comments / website was on his own time.

He has a constitutional right to be a bigot while employed by the government. The burden will be on DHS, not the bigot.

If he wasn't using government time or resources to support his bigotry, or violating any DHS regulations (that must be compatible with the 1st Am.), he will be protected. This unfortunately happens fairly regularly with some state and federal government employees.

I expect DHS to review all his official dealings with a fine tooth comb. If they find clear evidence of the above, he can be disciplined. Termination might be much harder due, ironically, to union protections and defense. However, given the press these bigots have received in recent years, they now tend to be shrewd and avoid the pitfalls that resulted in past firings.

If we don't hear an update from DHS in about 1 to 2 months, I expect they will try quietly pay him to leave.