{"id":974110,"date":"2021-11-05T21:29:06","date_gmt":"2021-11-06T01:29:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=974110"},"modified":"2021-11-05T21:29:09","modified_gmt":"2021-11-06T01:29:09","slug":"ethics-watchdog-files-another-hatch-act-complaint-against-bidens-energy-secretary-jennifer-granholm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ethics-watchdog-files-another-hatch-act-complaint-against-bidens-energy-secretary-jennifer-granholm\/","title":{"rendered":"Ethics Watchdog Files Another Hatch Act Complaint Against Biden&#039;s Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fethics-watchdog-files-another-hatch-act-complaint-against-bidens-energy-secretary-jennifer-granholm%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=974110&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/GettyImages-1351286460-e1636139811934-640x335-1.jpg\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\" \/><\/div>\n<p class=\"subheading\">An ethics watchdog group filed its second complaint against Biden\u2019s Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm with the&nbsp;Office of Special Counsel (OSC) to further&nbsp;investigate an alleged violation of the&nbsp;Hatch Act when Granholm used the \u201cofficial social media&nbsp;account to advocate that citizens vote a certain way.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT) complaint asked the OSC to further investigate&nbsp;Granholm after finding more alleged Hatch Act violations against her. Granholm used her official \u201c@SecGranholm\u201d Twitter account \u2014 which is&nbsp;taxpayer-funded \u2014 to push Mainers to vote \u201cNo\u201d on a particular proposal that was being voted on this past Tuesday.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"gmxrevmore\" class=\"H\"><\/figure>\n<p>While Americans are struggling with rising gas prices, Granholm appears to be more concerned with Maine\u2019s ballot initiative. Even more, Friday morning Biden\u2019s energy secretary laughed and said it was \u201chilarious\u201d when asked about Biden\u2019s plans to bring gas prices down and increase the oil production in the United States.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"7.9512195121951\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm laughs when asked about Biden&#8217;s plans to bring gas prices down.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Ha ha ha. That is hilarious!&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/0V0XCsVqDc\">pic.twitter.com\/0V0XCsVqDc<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RNCResearch\/status\/1456610771186634757?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 5, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The Hatch Act prohibits any executive branch employees, including secretaries, from being in their official capacity to influence an election, including using their title while partaking in&nbsp;political activity. The complaint also outlines that the Hatch Act was created to \u201cmaintain the public trust that federal government departments will be administered in a nonpartisan manner\u201d in addition to protecting&nbsp;taxpayer funds from being used for political purposes.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cThe Office of Special Counsel should immediately investigate and take any appropriate disciplinary action against Secretary Granholm,\u201d the complaint said, since a&nbsp;few days before the election, on October 28, the secretary used her official Twitter account to send out a series of tweets that the complaint says violated the Hatch Act:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"11.622641509434\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NECEC_ME?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@NECEC_ME<\/a> transmission line will bring clean energy to New England and reduce carbon emissions equivalent to taking 700k cars off the road. I hope Mainers vote NO on ONE to keep this project moving and reliable, affordable, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/CleanEnergy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#CleanEnergy<\/a> flowing!<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s what&#8217;s at stake \ud83d\udc471\/3 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Cl2DFmbPa9\">pic.twitter.com\/Cl2DFmbPa9<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Secretary Jennifer Granholm (@SecGranholm) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SecGranholm\/status\/1453798870903787520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 28, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"13.295597484277\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Voting NO on Question 1 will mean:<br \/>\u2705Mainers save money, an average of $116 per family<br \/>\u2705Mainers protect 1,600+ jobs.<br \/>\u2705Mainers breathe cleaner air, the equivalent of taking 700k cars off the road each year<br \/>\u2705Mainers can get cleaner, cheaper energy (3\/3)<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Secretary Jennifer Granholm (@SecGranholm) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SecGranholm\/status\/1453798876431847433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 28, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The complaint further explains the political involvement behind the secretary\u2019s tweets:<\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"9\">\n<p>\u201cQuestion 1\u201d is the most expensive ballot initiative in Maine history \u2014 the Political Action Committees (PACs) supporting and opposing it have raised more than $71 million. Executive 5 agencies have included ballot initiatives when defining political activity allowed while not on duty. Moreover, in this case the advocacy was done with official government resources and on 6 an official government account that implies endorsement.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cBy using an official government channel of communication, Secretary Granholm both indicated the federal government endorsed and encouraged citizens to vote a certain way on a ballot question, and used a taxpayer-funded resource to do so,\u201d the complaint clarified.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B3\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cJust weeks after we filed a complaint against Secretary Granholm for violating the Hatch Act for making political remarks while being interviewed in her official capacity, she has apparently violated the law again,\u201d&nbsp;FACT\u2019s Executive Director Kendra Arnold told Breitbart News. \u201cThis time Secretary Granholm used her official government Twitter account to tell Mainers how to vote on a ballot initiative.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Arnold noted that while Granholm used her&nbsp;taxpayer-funded Twitter account, it also gave the illusion that \u201cthe federal government has endorsed the initiative.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese abuses must end so public trust can be restored in our government officials,\u201d Arnold added.<\/p>\n<p>Breitbart News <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/politics\/2021\/10\/20\/ethics-watchdog-files-hatch-act-complaint-against-energy-secretary-jennifer-granholm\/\">reported<\/a> on FACT\u2019s first complaint with the OSC that indicated \u201cGranholm allegedly violated the Hatch Act by making political remarks when she&nbsp;was interviewed by&nbsp;Emily Tisch Sussman for a Marie Claire Instagram Live video while acting in her official capacity.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>During the interview, the secretary participated in \u201cThe complaint noted that while&nbsp;Granholm was introduced as&nbsp;the \u2018Energy Secretary,&#8217;\u201d and the discussion she participated in \u201cquickly became political,\u201d talking about the \u201cimportance of electing progressive Democrats to help pass President Biden\u2019s spending plan.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFirst of all, not to be partisan, but I am part of a Democratic administration, and fortunately we have just bare, but we do have majorities in the House and Senate,\u201d Granholm reportedly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/politics\/2021\/10\/20\/ethics-watchdog-files-hatch-act-complaint-against-energy-secretary-jennifer-granholm\/\">said<\/a> during her interview. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to get this stuff through.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A full copy of FACT\u2019s second complaint filed against Granholm can be found&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/65db7681-e755-4cff-abe7-1d9e373df4db.usrfiles.com\/ugd\/65db76_0381d695989c4c3fad136a6b82e6a66c.pdf\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In the past, FACT has also gone after failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, as well as more recently,&nbsp;Democrat Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) chair Rep.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/midterm-election\/2021\/10\/26\/report-dccc-chair-sean-patrick-maloney-may-abandon-democrat-house-majority-to-run-for-new-york-ag\/\">Sean Patrick Maloney<\/a>&nbsp;(D-NY), Rep.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/politics\/2021\/10\/05\/ethics-watchdog-calls-for-investigation-into-nevada-rep-susie-lee\/\">Susan Lee<\/a>&nbsp;(D-NV), and&nbsp;Rep.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/politics\/2021\/09\/01\/exclusive-ethics-watchdog-files-complaint-requesting-investigation-into-democrat-katherine-clarks-stock-transactions\/\">Katherine Clark<\/a> (D-MA).<\/p>\n<p><i>Jacob Bliss is a reporter for Breitbart News. You can follow him on <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jacobmbliss\"><span><i>Twitter<\/i><\/span><\/a><i>.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An ethics watchdog group filed its second complaint against Biden\u2019s Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm with the\u00a0Office of Special Counsel (OSC) to further\u00a0investigate an alleged violation of the\u00a0Hatch Act when Granholm &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-974110","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/974110","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=974110"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/974110\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=974110"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=974110"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=974110"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}