Investigating Possible Hatch Act Violations

Senate Democrats are urging the Special Advisors Office (OSC) to look into whether White House officials may have breached the Hatch Act while pushing against the efforts of the Butlers.

In a letter sent on Tuesday, the senator highlighted statements made on July 15th by a senior advisor from the OSC, Charles Valdis, who claimed he could secure five Republican seats by influencing Texas districts.

Additionally, the lawmakers referenced reports indicating that senior officials from the administration had engaged with Texas House Republicans regarding a White House initiative to redraw congressional maps before the upcoming midterm elections. This letter was led by Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and supported by Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.).

The Hatch Act bars federal employees from engaging in political activities while on duty or at federal properties, though it does not apply to the President. Yet, a Democratic senator has called for OSC to investigate potential violations by administrative authorities.

“While the president himself may not fall under Hatch Act restrictions, his senior officials in the White House and the U.S. Department of Justice are indeed required to comply with this law,” the letter states. “Numerous reports suggest that White House officials are orchestrating a political pressure campaign to persuade Republicans in Texas and other states to alter district boundaries, which could benefit Republicans in the 2026 midterms.”

“We are confident that an OSC investigation will reveal whether senior White House officials have been involved in unacceptable partisan political activities,” the senator asserted in the correspondence.

Concerns similar to these were raised in a letter addressed to the Department of Justice (DOJ), suggesting possible violations of the Hatch Act.

The lawmakers pointed to earlier communication directed to Texas Attorney General Michael Abbott (R) and Secretary of State Ken Paxton (R) on July 7th.

The senator remarked that this letter presented conflicting legal arguments, indicating the DOJ’s communication is an attempt to justify a clearly partisan effort that has been publicly acknowledged.

“Considering the White House’s activities, this letter along with other actions by the DOJ—some of which may not be known to the public—seems aimed at influencing the outcomes of future congressional elections,” the senator noted.

“We formally request that the OSC conduct a thorough investigation to determine if senior officials from the White House and the U.S. Department of Justice have violated laws prohibiting unethical political activities,” they concluded.

An OSC spokesperson confirmed the letter’s receipt, stating that “the agency is currently reviewing it.”