WASHINGTON — Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra violated the Hatch Act when he expressed support for Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla’s election at an event last year, a government watchdog said Tuesday.
While speaking at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus annual awards gala in September, Becerra said he intended to vote for the California senator. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel, which handles disclosing wrongdoing within the federal government, said Becerra expressed his “personal electoral preference” while in his official capacity.
The Hatch Act prohibits federal employees, while acting in their official capacity, from affecting or interfering with elections.
