OSC Brings Hatch Act Enforcement Action Against GSA Employee

Today's press release at the OSC website announces the decision to seek disciplinary action for an alleged Hatch Act violation:

An investigation conducted by OSC found evidence that the GSA employee engaged in prohibited political activity, including soliciting political contributions and e-mailing promotional material in association with the 2008 Presidential election. The e-mails were sent to other federal employees and federal contractors and, among other things, included information about volunteer opportunities for then-Presidential candidate Barack Obama’s campaign. The GSA employee engaged in this activity while on duty and while in a government building.

Thus, OSC’s investigation found evidence that the GSA employee violated three Hatch Act prohibitions – the prohibition against soliciting, accepting or receiving political contributions from any person, the prohibition against engaging in political activity while on duty, and the prohibition against engaging in political activity while in a room or building occupied in the discharge of official duties by an individual employed in the Government of the United States. Accordingly, OSC has filed a complaint with the MSPB, seeking disciplinary action with respect to the GSA employee for knowingly violating the Hatch Act.