minister of justice Pam Bundy The U.S. Department of Justice has rescinded a policy that barred DOJ political appointees from participating in campaign events or fundraisers, according to a memo seen by CBS News on Wednesday.
The move lifts restrictions put in place in 2022 by former Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Federal employees’ political activities are already restricted under the bill Hatch ActA law designed to free government from partisan influence.
Prior to Garland’s policy, however, political appointees could participate in certain partisan activities in an individual capacity with department approval. Under Garland’s 2022 amendment, political appointees are prohibited from participating in any partisan political activity in any capacity — even on Election Day.
His policy also bars politically appointed department officials from participating in campaigns involving close family members running for office. Bondi’s new memo would essentially allow political appointees to participate in such events again.
Garland tightened policies around political events after the Office of the Special Counsel, the government agency that enforces the Hatch Act, launched an investigation into whether then-Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Rachel Rollins violated the law by attending a Democratic fundraiser attended by First Lady Jill Biden.
Rollins later forced to resign She was removed from her position amid an investigation into her conduct by the Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General and Special Counsel. The inspector general found she engaged in multiple unethical conduct, including not only attending fundraisers but making false statements during interviews with her office, and Abuse of power In many other ways.
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