U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins is the goal of an investigation about whether or not she violated the Hatch Act after attending a DNC fundraiser with First Lady Jill Biden in Andover, whereas the DOJ on Tuesday introduced new restrictions on political actions.
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel has launched the investigation into Rollins, based on a report from Reuters.
Rollins’ attendance at that Democratic fundraiser in July — first reported by the Herald — apparently sparked the brand new Department of Justice political restrictions.
Attorney General Merrick Garland on Tuesday wrote a memo to all DOJ non-career staff concerning the new guidelines.
“As Department employees, we have been entrusted with the authority and responsibility to enforce the laws of the United States in a neutral and impartial manner,” Garland wrote within the memo. “In fulfilling this responsibility, we must do all we can to maintain public trust and ensure that politics — both in fact and appearance — does not compromise or affect the integrity of our work.”
Under the brand new restrictions, DOJ appointees can not attend political fundraisers and marketing campaign occasions.
“Although longstanding Department policy has permitted non-career appointees to attend partisan political events, e.g., fundraisers and campaign events, in their personal capacities if they participated passively and obtained prior approval, under the new policy, non-career appointees may not participate in any partisan political event in any capacity,” the rule reads. “This restriction applies to both public and non-public partisan political events.”
In the aftermath of Rollins attending the fundraiser in mid-July, she defended her look, saying she had gotten approval to fulfill the First Lady and left early to talk at group occasions.
The Herald reached out to a spokesperson for the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney’s Office Tuesday night concerning the U.S. Office of Special Counsel investigation. The spokesperson responded, “We do not have any comment.”
After the Herald’s report in mid-July about Rollins attending the fundraiser with the First Lady, U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, referred to as for the Department of Justice inspector normal to conduct an investigation into what he referred to as a “blatant violation” of federal regulation. Cotton had fought in opposition to Rollins’ nomination to the federal publish, citing her progressive insurance policies and do-not-prosecute record.
Senate-confirmed Department of Justice appointees are allowed to have interaction in political exercise, however they must abide by sure pointers underneath the Hatch Act.
“I know you agree it is critical that we hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards to avoid even the appearance of political influence as we carry out the Department’s mission,” Garland wrote within the new memo. “It is in that spirit that I have added these new restrictions on political activities by non-career employees.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”