Special Counsel Concludes Navy Secretary Violated Hatch Act With Election Comments

Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro discussed the 2024 election during an official visit to the United Kingdom in January.
Special Counsel Concludes Navy Secretary Violated Hatch Act With Election Comments
Carlos Del Toro, secretary of the Navy, speaks during an event in San Diego, Calif., on Nov. 6, 2021. Ariana Drehsler/AFP via Getty Images
Ryan Morgan
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Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, the top civilian in the Department of the Navy, violated a federal law against politicking in office, according to a new report by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC).

The OSC report, released on Sept. 5, states Del Toro made multiple statements endorsing President Joe Biden’s reelection during an official visit to the United Kingdom in January. Special counsel Hampton Dellinger concluded the remarks run afoul of the Hatch Act, a federal law to prevent federal employees from mixing their official work with political advocacy.