Communications

Today on “Happening Now” Andrew Romanoff confirmed that Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina’s email came from a White House account.  As Robert Gibbs has said multiple times, the purpose of this outreach was to impact primary elections in order to benefit the Democrat party.  As every White House staffer learns on their first day, government resources are not to be used for political purposes.  It seems that the more we learn about the White House’s job offers the more apparent it is that the White House needs to open itself to a independent investigation. 

White House Says It Has An Interest In Avoiding Costly Party Primaries

ROBERT GIBBS: “Jim Messina called and emailed Romanoff last September to see if he was still interested in a position at USAID, or if, as had been reported, he was running for the US Senate.  Months earlier, the President had endorsed Senator Michael Bennet for the Colorado seat, and Messina wanted to determine if it was possible to avoid a costly battle between two supporters.” (Official Statement by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 5/3/10)

More from ROBERT GIBBS: “Presidents, as leaders of their parties, ‘have long had an interest in ensuring that supporters didn't run against each other in contested elections,’ press secretary Robert Gibbs said.”  (Charles Babington & Philip Eliott, “White House defends dealmaking in political races,” Associated Press, 5/3/10)

But Is It Legal To Do It With Taxpayer Resources?

(Click Here To Watch The Video)

Transcript from Fox News’ “Happening Now,” 5/4/10:

JANE SKINNER: “I don't have to tell you that some lawyers look at this and say there is a potential that something actually was done here against the law and it may depend on where Jim Messina was when he contacted you. Where was he, and was that a personal e-mail? It's redacted on the e-mail that's released.  Was it a professional e-mail? What can you tell us about the communications?”

ANDREW ROMANOFF: “Sure.  The e-mail itself came from the White House account.”

Refresher on the Hatch Act and Relevant Statutes

 “The Hatch Act prohibits Less Restricted employees from:.. engaging in political activity while: on duty; in a government office;” (U.S. Office of Special Counsel Website, www.osc.gov/haFederalLessRestrisctionandActivities.htm, Accessed 6/4/10)

“Additionally, while on duty and/or in any federal room or building, Less Restricted federal employees may not, for example:… use any e-mail account to distribute, send or forward content that advocates for or against a partisan political party, candidate for partisan political office, or partisan political group” (U.S. Office of Special Counsel Website, www.osc.gov/haFederalLessRestrisctionandActivities.htm, Accessed 6/4/10)

18 U.S.C. § 600 prohibits public officials from using government-funded jobs or programs to advance their partisan political interests. The statute makes it unlawful for anyone to “directly or indirectly, promise[ ] any employment, position, compensation, contract, appointment, or other benefit” to any person as a “consideration, favor, or reward for any political activity or for the support of or opposition to any candidate or any political party…in connection with any primary election”

18 U.S.C. § 595 prohibits any person employed in any administrative position by the United States “in connection with any activity which is financed…by the United States…us[ing] his official authority for the purpose of interfering with, or affecting, the nomination or the election of any candidate for the office of…member of the Senate.”