Trump appointee cleared of ethics law violation following Honolulu speech

The Office of Special Counsel has cleared Don Benton, President Donald Trump’s Selective Service director, of violating the Hatch Act during a speech he gave at the Hawaii Republican Party’s Constitution Day Dinner last year. The Campaign Legal Center, a Washington, D.C.-based nonpartisan watchdog organization, filed a complaint with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel calling for an investigation of Benton.

“We are glad to learn Mr. Benton sought advice from agency counsel and used this information to communicate with the party hosting the event,” said Corey Goldstone, Media Strategist for the Campaign Legal Center, in response to the decision. “It appears he took a meaningful step to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest at this event. It seems that the Hatch Act Unit took this matter seriously and we consider the matter resolved.”

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