A watchdog group is suing the Obama administration for records on an investigation into possible Hatch Act violations by former White House staff members Rahm Emanuel and Jim Messina.Rahmfather: you have the right to remain silent but a future "legitimate" U.S. Attorney might have some questions for you.
Judicial Watch announced Thursday it has filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) for records on its investigation into former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina, whom the watchdog group alleges used their positions as high-level administration officials in 2009 to affect federal elections.
The Hatch Act states that an employee may not “use his official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election.”
Judicial Watch alleges that Emanuel was involved in offering Rep. Joe Sestak (D., Pa.) several executive branch positions if he declined to challenge Sen. Arlen Specter (D., Pa.) in Pennsylvania’s 2010 Democratic primary.
A memo authored by White House Counsel Robert Bauer said that “efforts were made in June and July of 2009 to determine whether Congressman Sestak would be interested in service on a Presidential or other Senior Executive Branch Advisory Board, which would avoid a divisive Senate primary.”
Friday, May 23, 2014
Judicial Watch seeking records on Rahm Emanuel, Jim Messina investigations: White House Sued Over Possible Hatch Act Violations
The Washington Free Beacon reports:
