Shortly afterward, Education Department staff members distributed a link to the interview in an official email titled, Important Updates from U.S. Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, via a government list, according to the complaint filed with the Office of Special Counsel. Ms. DeVoss official Twitter account also posted the interview.
The watchdog blog, Checks and Balances Project, claimed that the remarks and dissemination of the video amounted to a coordinated campaign, political attack on Mr. Biden. It also constituted a violation of the Hatch Act, the group said.
Scott Peterson, the executive director of Checks and Balances Project, said that Eric Johnson, a lawyer in the Office of Special Counsel Hatch Act Unit, confirmed to him that the agency would investigate the complaint. Mr. Peterson added that, during a phone call, Mr. Johnson said the coronavirus pandemic might slow the investigation, which was reported earlier by Politico.
According to Mr. Peterson, Mr. Johnson told him: Well investigate the matters in your complaint. The incident seems very well documented.
Mr. Johnson did not immediately respond to a phone message seeking comment. The Education Department did not respond late Monday to a request for comment.read more
DeVos to Be Investigated for Potential Violation of Ethics Law
