U.S. Housing and Urban Development Minister Marcia Fudge has come under fire for a possible violation of a law banning White House officials from engaging in campaign-related activities.
The former Democratic Republic of Ohio is answering a question in the White House this week about who could fill Sen. Rob Portman’s seat, R-Ohio, who will not seek re-election in 2022, as the Washington Post first reported . She also pleaded for Democrats in the race.
“Well, I have two friends thinking about it,” Fudge said. “Tim Ryan obviously thinks about it, understands and really thinks about it. I mean, I think we’re going to put a good man in the race no matter who we choose. But they’re both friends. I think we have “Good luck. I know people wrote off Ohio. I did not write off Ohio. I believe we can win the Senate race.”
The law in question is the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from using their official authority to influence or interfere with an election.
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Fudge did not want to answer a question about the special election to fill her seat.
An official at the special council’s office explained to The Post on condition of anonymity prohibited by law.
“If there is a government employee who speaks from the White House briefing and is there in their official capacity, then they are prohibited from engaging in political activities while speaking,” the official told the publication.
Fudge admitted in a statement that she had to stick to her ‘first instinct’, which did not have to answer the question.
“When I walked out of the information room on Thursday to relieve the American people and the American rescue plan, I answered a question from a reporter related to politics in Ohio,” Fudge said in a statement Friday night. “I admit that I had to stick to my first instinct and not answer the question. I take these things seriously and want to assure the American people that I am committed to providing for the needs of our country.”
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Penalties for violations include removal from the federal service, demotion, suspension, reprimand and a civil fine of as much as $ 1,000.
Fudge is the first black woman to give rise to HUD in decades. She represented Ohio in the House in 2008 until she vacated her seat for her administrative role.
She was sworn in last week and attended the press conference with press secretary Jen Psaki on Thursday to discuss the US rescue plan.
As previously reported by Fox News, the special council’s office recommended that President Donald Trump fire White House adviser Kellyanne Conway for violating the Hatch Act on “several occasions.” Conway was not fired.