Washington: The US Office of Special Counsel (OSC) has accused White House trade adviser Peter Navarro of having to violate the Hatch Act and urged President Donald Trump to take "appropriate disciplinary action", such as a fine or removal from office, the media reported.
Under the relevant statute, the punishments for a Hatch Act violation can include removal from office, a reduction in grade, debarment from federal employment for up to five years, suspension or reprimand.
In a report to Trump on Monday, the OSC said: "From May 26 through October 19, 2020, during at least six media interviews where he appeared in his official capacity as Assistant to the President and Director of the Office on Trade and Manufacturing Policy, Navarro repeatedly attacked presidential candidate Joe Biden and/or vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
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It said that Navarro also made frequent use of his Twitter account to attack both Biden and Harris, reports Politico news.
"He committed these violations after having received training on the Hatch Act and, for most of the violations, while knowing that OSC was investigating him for engaging in the same prohibited political activity," the report said.