Comer & Norman: Granholm’s Hatch Act Violation Latest Ethical Lapse for Biden Administration

Request a briefing and all documents related to the Office of Special Counsel’s investigation into Secretary Granholm

WASHINGTON — Today, House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) and Subcommittee on the Environment Ranking Member Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) are raising serious concerns following an investigation by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) determining that Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm violated the Hatch Act by using her cabinet-level position to improperly advocate for Democratic candidates. In a letter to Special Counsel Henry Kerner, the lawmakers emphasize how OSC found that the Secretary did not have sufficient Hatch Act training and request a briefing and all documents, including emails, related to OSC’s investigation into Secretary Granholm’s Hatch Act violation.

“Given the well documented ethical lapses by the Secretary, we have further questions about the Biden Administration’s commitment to ethical standards by senior-level political appointees,” wrote the lawmakers. “The Hatch Act prohibits federal employees from engaging in certain types of political activities. In particular, it prohibits federal employees from using their official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the results of an election. During an October 6, 2021 interview with Marie Claire magazine, the Secretary used her government position to implore listeners to vote for candidates of the Democratic party. The Secretary stated, at one point, that ‘I am using Democrats as a substitute for the policies that you believe in, the policies that you would like to see happen.’ OSC only issued a warning because it found the Secretary had not received significant training on the Hatch Act, concluding that it was not a ‘knowing violation.’ This is concerning since the Secretary has a history of skirting ethics laws and raises questions about whether cabinet-level officials are receiving appropriate training about ethical obligations.”

On February 14, 2022, Oversight Republicans initially raised concerns about Secretary Granholm’s conflicts of interest and possible statutory violations related to personal stock holdings. Information revealed Secretary Granholm violated the STOCK Act even though DOE previously told Committee Republicans she was complying with the Biden Administration’s ethical standards.

Read the full letter to Special Counsel Kerner here.