Public Event Ethics & Hatch Act Compliance Auditor

Evaluate public appearances, speeches, campaign-adjacent travel, and political endorsements by executive officials against 5 U.S.C. §§ 7321–7326 (Hatch Act), 5 C.F.R. Part 734, DOJ non-interference policies, and federal travel apportionment rules.

Appearance Parameters

AUDIT PRESETS

Official Name & Title

Official Classification Tier Statutory category DOJ policy restricts political activity more strictly than general Title 5 rules.

Event Description & Host

Days to General / Midterm Election 45 days DOJ Election Year Policy imposes severe scrutiny inside 60-day window.

Conduct & Resource Factors

Introduced / billed using official title & agency authority Travel funded by official government appropriations (flights/per diem) Delivered remarks advocating election/defeat of partisan candidates Solicited, accepted, or received political contributions (Hatch § 7323) Official government staff / security detail assigned during event Sponsored by political campaign, party committee, or PAC

Total Trip Cost ($ USD) Used to calculate required campaign reimbursement under 5 CFR § 734.503.

Hatch Act Liability

High

5 U.S.C. § 7323(a)

DOJ Norms Status

Breached

Election Sensitivity Memo

Mandatory Repayment

$14,200

5 CFR § 734.503 Apportionment

OSC Investigation Risk

Extreme

Office of Special Counsel

ETHICS COMPLIANCE VULNERABILITY RADAR 6 Dimension Risk Assessment

STATUTORY & ETHICAL FINDINGS 6 Rules Evaluated

Required Corrective Actions & Legal Defenses

Statutory Frameworks & Norms Breakdown

The Hatch Act (5 U.S.C. §§ 7321–7326)

Enacted in 1939 to prevent federal personnel from coercing voters or using public authority to affect election outcomes. While Tier 1 PAS officers can engage in certain non-official political speech, they may never use official title, government appropriations, staff, or vehicles for political campaign events.

DOJ Non-Interference Policy

Formalized by successive Attorneys General (the "Election Year Memos"), Department of Justice policy strictly prohibits public speeches, investigative disclosures, or public rallies within 60 days of an election that could influence voter sentiment or compromise DOJ neutrality.

Travel Apportionment (5 C.F.R. § 734.503)

When an official travels for mixed official and campaign purposes, federal appropriations law and ethics guidelines mandate that the political campaign or party reimburse the U.S. Treasury for airfare, hotel, and associated costs on a pro-rata or full charter basis.