U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton is asking for an investigation into what he says is a “blatant violation” of federal legislation after Rachael Rollins, the state’s high federal prosecutor, attended a “high-dollar” Democratic fundraiser in Andover that includes the primary woman.
Cotton, in a letter obtained completely by the Herald, calls on the inspector common for the Department of Justice to launch a probe right into a “potential Hatch Act violation” by Rollins.
As the Herald first reported, Rollins attended a Democratic National Committee fundraiser with first woman Jill Biden on Thursday.
When requested if her attendance on the ritzy gathering was breaking the legislation, she advised a Herald reporter: “No.”
The Hatch Act strictly forbids DOJ staff from utilizing their positions to solicit donations for political events. In some circumstances, it does enable attending such occasions.
But Cotton, in his letter to DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz, factors out that Rollins arrived throughout “typical business hours,” in a car with authorities plates and “in her official capacity as United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts.”
MEMO: Sen. Cotton DOJ letter on Rollins
Cotton goes on to slam Rollins for what he says goes in opposition to the spirit of the Hatch Act which is “intended to maintain a politically neutral workplace” — together with the U.S. Attorney’s workplace in Boston’s Seaport.
“The Hatch Act expressly prohibits covered federal employees, such as Ms. Rollins, from using their official positions for partisan political purposes, including attending partisan political events in their official capacities,” Cotton writes.
Cotton led the Republican push within the Senate to dam Rollins’ U.S. Attorney nomination, however she was narrowly authorized with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tie-breaking vote in December.
In Cotton’s letter, he provides Rollins is meant to “act as a nonpartisan law enforcement official” as her workplace goes after criminals from all sides of the political spectrum.
Cotton ends by telling the IG that “given the apparent blatant violation in this case, I urge you to conduct an investigation into Ms. Rollins’s conduct.”
The DOJ states the Hatch Act applies to all company staff — however the greater up the ranks an worker goes, the extra scrutiny they face.
“Political activity is activity directed toward the success or failure of a political party, candidate for partisan political office, or partisan political group. The statute carries serious penalties including REMOVAL from federal employment,” the DOJ Hatch Act abstract states.
Political appointees, and that would come with Rollins who was nominated by President Biden, are “further restricted” from marketing campaign actions, the DOJ provides.
A White House pool report from the Andover fundraiser states “FLOTUS (Jill Biden) arrived at the residence of Ashraf and Shamim Dahod at 4:40 p.m. EST for a Democratic National Committee fundraiser.”
There was no point out of Rollins within the pool reporter’s abstract, however the Herald noticed her attend throughout the 4 o’clock hour. She left in an SUV with authorities plates.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”