- By Joergen Haisem
- (General Dispatch) – The sheriff of northern New York is accused of violating the hatch law for raising a pro-trump flag at a small craft event in 2020.
- The independent federal CSO agency, which is responsible for investigating and prosecuting cases involving employee violations of the law, sent a pre-emptive writ to the New York sheriff.
- After they made a complaint to the agency alleging that the official had raised a US flag with the image of former president Donald Trump with the slogan “Making America Great” at a “Trump flotilla” event held on August 2.
- According to local media reported that the sheriff was accompanied by three other officers in a patrol boat, hovering in the area with the flag raised.
- The Federal agency (OSC) has the authority to enforce the hatch law, a 1939 “Preventing Politically Pernicious Activities Act,” which prohibits employees from holding elected public office or participating in political campaigns.
- “Because he used an official agency resource to promote a presidential candidate, thereby giving the impression that the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office endorsed that candidate, the OSC determined that he violated the Hatch Act’s prohibition against using his official authority to affect an election” said Erica S Hamrick, deputy director of the OSC’s Hatch Act Unit.
- Sheriff Hilton weighed in on the letter, claiming he took responsibility for the act, the officers accompanying him were not involved, he claimed they were roaming the area to provide security for the event.
- “I did this to show support for the participants of the event and our president, who has supported law enforcement at a time when many groups are unfairly vilifying our profession,” said the sheriff.
Adittional Information:
Breitbart: Officials: New York Sheriff Violated Hatch Act by Flying Trump Flag in Summer Boat Parade
Syracuse: Oswego County sheriff gets warning from U.S. investigators for flying Trump flag on patrol boat
