(DailyEmailNews.com) – United States Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro reportedly broke federal law by publicly supporting Joe Biden’s reelection campaign and criticizing GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump during a trip abroad.
According to a report by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC), Del Toro’s comments during a January 25 event went against the Hatch Act, which bans U.S. officials from engaging in political activity while on duty.
At the event, he mentioned the need for a “mature” leader like Biden and criticized those who support “autocratic dictators.”
Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger highlighted the issue, saying, “When speaking in his official capacity on a taxpayer-funded trip, Secretary Del Toro encouraged electoral support for one candidate over another in the upcoming presidential election.”
“This is especially troubling because Secretary Del Toro has himself acknowledged that military work and partisan politics should not be mixed,” Dellinger added.
On the same day, Del Toro also gave an interview to “BBC News Sunday,” where he seemed to slam Trump.
He stated:
“My worry is that, you know, we as Americans, for as long as I can remember, certainly, since I served in uniform, you’ve had both Republican and Democratic presidents who’ve always abided by the core values of our country, protecting the freedoms of Americans and other people around the globe and protecting democracy itself.”
He further questioned, “And when you have someone who doesn’t align to those core principles, it makes you wonder, you know, should you be supporting that individual?”
Del Toro himself reported his BBC News comments to the special counsel on February 1.
He said his intention was to focus on national security and the importance of strong international alliances but admitted his responses could have been less specific about political candidates.
The OSC remarked that Del Toro’s self-reporting did not free him from wrongdoing.
Michael Bromwich, Del Toro’s lawyer, argued that the comments were off-the-cuff and did not specifically breach the Hatch Act.
Del Toro added that the interview wasn’t broadcast in the U.S. and denied making remarks directly about Trump.
As noted by the Navy Times, Hatch Act violations could lead to serious consequences, including removal, demotion or a civil fine of up to $1,000.
Navy Secretary Breaks Law with Political Statements About Presidential Race, Watchdog Says https://t.co/PE0VbKYFyP
— Military.com (@Militarydotcom) September 5, 2024
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