Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro violated the Hatch Act by endorsing President Joe Biden's reelection during official duties, according to the US Office of Special Counsel. His comments were made in a BBC interview and while speaking in London, where he criticized former President Donald Trump. Special counsel Hampton Dellinger highlighted the troubling nature of Del Toro's refusal to fully acknowledge his mistake.
Del Toro's statements occurred before Biden left the presidential race and the Hatch Act prohibits such political activities by US officials while on duty. Del Toro acknowledged his comments but argued they were unplanned and focused on the importance of international alliances. His lawyer, Michael Bromwich, defended Del Toro by noting he did not explicitly name Trump; he also contended the remarks were spontaneous.
Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh emphasized the need for maintaining public trust and avoiding political implications. The Navy is reviewing the report, with Capt. Clay Doss stating the matter will be addressed appropriately. While Del Toro has issued guidelines on maintaining an apolitical Navy, Dellinger noted that his self-reporting does not absolve him. Del Toro's violation follows a congressional call for the military to remain apolitical during the ongoing presidential election campaign.
story continues below
Word count: 173 (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
,
uBlock 
,
and
Ghostery 
)
