Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro was found to have violated the Hatch Act by publicly endorsing President Joe Biden for reelection and criticizing former President Donald Trump while on official duty overseas, according to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel. The agency stated that Del Toro’s remarks during a BBC interview and in response to questions after a speech in London constitute a breach of the Hatch Act, which prohibits political activity by U.S. officials while on duty.
Del Toro’s comments included endorsing President Biden’s leadership by stating, “The United States and the world need the mature leadership of President Biden,” and criticizing Trump’s democratic principles by expressing concerns about aligning with autocratic rulers. Although Del Toro later self-reported the statements to the special counsel, the agency highlighted his failure to take responsibility for his actions as troubling.
In response to the watchdog’s findings, Del Toro’s lawyer argued that the remarks were spontaneous and did not directly violate the Hatch Act since the Secretary did not mention Trump by name. However, Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger emphasized that Del Toro had indeed crossed a legal line and criticized his reluctance to acknowledge his mistake.
It was noted that Del Toro’s self-reporting of the incident does not exempt him from potential consequences under the Hatch Act. The Department of the Navy’s apolitical nature was underscored by Dellinger, who stressed the importance of preserving public trust and confidence in the Navy’s neutrality.
Following calls from Democratic members of Congress earlier in the year to prevent military involvement in politics, Del Toro’s violation raises concerns about the politicization of the military during election periods. Violations of the Hatch Act can lead to disciplinary actions such as dismissal, suspension, demotion, or fines for federal employees, although actual penalties are rare.
Both the Navy and the White House have yet to respond to requests for comments on the matter.
