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Blog Entry from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington

White House staff gave regular political briefings in apparent violation of federal law

The Washington Post reported today that Bush administration officials may have regularly violated the provisions of the Hatch Act: 

White House officials conducted 20 private briefings on Republican electoral prospects in the last midterm election for senior officials in at least 15 government agencies covered by federal restrictions on partisan political activity, a White House spokesman and other administration officials said yesterday.

The previously undisclosed briefings were part of what now appears to be a regular effort in which the White House sent senior political officials to brief top appointees in government agencies on which seats Republican candidates might win or lose, and how the election outcomes could affect the success of administration policies, the officials said.

Last month, CREW's counsel, Ann Weismann, described the potential for Hatch Act violations based on a political presentation by White House personnel at the General Services Administration:

[I]f these materials were truly “political,” then GSA administrator Lurita Doan and others violated the Hatch Act when they allowed and participated directly in partisan political activity at GSA headquarters during working hours.

Based on today's Post article, it appears there was regular participation in partisan political activity at many government agencies during work hours.

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