By Juan Montoya
After we posted the criticism of Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz for running a wad that insinuated that he had the full trust of Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey and an alphabet soup of federal agencies, we received supplementary information from one of our seven readers.
The reader told us that he had been a federal official once and that as such, he had been reprimanded for writing a letter on the nomination of an individual to a federal position. The seemingly innocuous mention of the candidate in a letter was enough to warrant an admonishment.
Now, we know that the Saenz ad is political hype, but the intent of the ad is to convince the reading public that Saenz has the trust (and support?) of Comey and the federal agencies. The ad then goes on to say that "You can Trust Him, too."
Now, we know that the Saenz ad is political hype, but the intent of the ad is to convince the reading public that Saenz has the trust (and support?) of Comey and the federal agencies. The ad then goes on to say that "You can Trust Him, too."
If anything comes close to a supposed endorsement from Comey and the feds for Saenz's reelection, this would be it.
Unfortunately, as much as Saenz would like to convince us that Comey and the feds have his back by insinuating that he has earned their public approval, these people would be in violation of federal law.
In fact, the penalties for any of those federal employees or members of agencies – which includes Comey and the FBI – is removal from office.
The 1939 Hatch Act forbade the intimidation or bribery of voters and restricts political campaign activities by federal employees. It prohibits using any public funds designated for relief or public works for electoral purposes.In fact, the penalties for any of those federal employees or members of agencies – which includes Comey and the FBI – is removal from office.
It forbade officials paid with federal funds from using promises of jobs, promotion, financial assistance, contracts, or any other benefit to coerce campaign contributions or political support.
It provided that persons below the policy-making level in the executive branch of the federal government must not only refrain from political practices that would be illegal for any citizen, but must abstain from "any active part" in political campaigns, using this language to specify those who are exempt.
Later, the advocates for removing or modifying restrictions on the political activities of federal employees succeeded in enacting the Hatch Act Reform Amendments of 1993 that removed the prohibition on participation in "political management or political campaigns."
Federal employees are still forbidden to use their authority to affect the results of an election. They are also forbidden to run for office in a partisan election, to solicit or receive political contributions, and to engage in political activities while on duty or on federal property.
We have also been told that a copy of the ad has been sent to FBI offices in Washington to see whether the director knew tor approved that the photo-op where he stood one-on-one with the scores of local law enforcement be used for the election of one of those attending. A copy is said to have also been mailed to The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) which is in charge of upholding the act.
The Hatch Act also applies to employees of the Dept. of Homeland Security and Treasury and prohibits the use official authority or influence to interfere with an election and to engage in political activity while on duty.
The Hatch Act also applies to employees of the Dept. of Homeland Security and Treasury and prohibits the use official authority or influence to interfere with an election and to engage in political activity while on duty.
6 comments:
Luis Saenz will win his re election !! With or without endorsements
I think that Mr Saenz can't even TRUST himself because he can now feel sinking on his re-election campaign and has to be forced to use this drastic measures.
Have you found a single soul that thinks this is an endorsement by Comey for Saenz? No more then having his photo taken getting off that plane with Livingston is an endorsement of Saenz by Livingston. It is, of course, Saenz trying to get a little reflected glory. But good job of blowing smoke on that Hatch Act business. No doubt you know it doesn't even almost apply. On the other hand, it is demeaning to your readers that you should try to scam them with this.
We get it that you don't like Louie Saenz for DA! But you are beating a dead horse here and stretch you already thin talking point to the breaking point. Enough already with the Comey/Saenz crap.
It's too bad Luis never prosecuted real Cameron County corruption in the last 4 years. He might have had pictures of Ernie Hernandez going to prison, along with his daughter Erin, to show off in his re-election campaign. Saenz could have been praised for decades to come, in re-election campaign after re-election campaign, for a long-awaited crackdown on Matamoros-style corruption in Brownsville. But it never happened. Instead, his lame efforts to publish a fake picture with a federal official in the paper and pretend its an endorsement speaks volumes.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE IN THE LAST 4 YEARS LUIS????? NOTHING!! I SEE ERNIE WALKING AROUND. I SEE AURORA SHOPPING AT HEB. I SEE MASSO WITH CONVICTED VOTER FRAUD FELONS BEATING YOUR ASS AND YOU AINT DOING SHIT ABOUT IT.
Exactly.
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