Trump official accused of violating Hatch Act for speech at Hawaii GOP fundraiser

The Campaign Legal Center filed a complaint with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel on Tuesday morning demanding an investigation be launched to determine if Don Benton, director of the U.S. Selective Service System, violated the Hatch Act by speaking at Republican Party fundraiser last week. 

The CLC sent a letter to Hatch Act Unit Chief Ana Galindo-Marrone asking her office to look at whether Benton's attendance as a speaker at a Hawaii Republican Party fundraiser on Friday was illegal. The letter, obtained by the Washington Examiner, said he should be disciplined if found to be at fault. 

"A 'party fundraiser' for the Hawaii Republican Party where the party 'launch[ed] their ... general election campaign' is clearly 'political activity' under the Hatch Act and its implementing regulations," CLC legal counsel Delaney Marsco wrote. The Hatch Act states all employees of the executive branch, which the SSS falls under, are prohibited from "us[ing] his or her official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election."

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