[Ray Bogan]
House Republicans say Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Lina Khan may have violated the Hatch Act, a federal law that limits the political activities of federal employees. Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, Republican of Ohio, accused Khan of appearing at campaign-style events and calling for the election of Democratic candidates.
In a letter to Khan, Jordan said, “Federal law and the Federal Trade Commission’s rules of ethics prohibit you from participating in political events and from using appropriated funds for any political activity.”
Jordan cited reports from Punchbowl News that Khan spent a week on the road in early October with five Democrats running for re-election. The events took place in Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin and Arizona, and Khan discussed topics including corporate power, worker freedom, price gouging and health care.
The letter to Khan read: “Your campaign-style tour raises the perception – at the very least – that you have violated ethical standards for advocating for the election of partisan political candidates.”
According to the Office of Special Counsel, the purpose of the Hatch Act is to ensure that federal programs are administered in a nonpartisan manner and to protect federal employees from political coercion in the workplace.
Jordan wants Khan to tell him who scheduled the events, who paid for travel and lodging, and also to provide any advice or direction Khan received from the agency’s ethics officer regarding their appearance. Khan and the FTC have not yet responded to Jordan publicly.
