Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro Found to Have Violated the Hatch Act, Prompting Criticism for Political Statements

In a recent report released by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro has been accused of breaking the law by publicly endorsing the reelection of President Joe Biden and criticizing former President Donald Trump while on official duty overseas. The report states that Del Toro's comments, made during a BBC interview in London, violated the Hatch Act, which prohibits U.S. officials from engaging in political activity while on duty and using their authority to interfere with election results.

The Office of Special Counsel expressed concerns about Del Toro's comments, as he failed to take responsibility for his remarks. The agency stated that Del Toro's statements, made before Biden dropped out of the presidential race, infringed upon the Hatch Act's guidelines. According to the report, Del Toro declared in response to a question after giving a speech at the Royal United Services Institute, "The United States and the world need the mature leadership of President Biden. We cannot afford to have a president who aligns himself with autocratic dictators and rulers whose interpretation of democratic principles is suspicious (at) best."

In a subsequent interview on "BBC News Sunday," Del Toro was asked about his comments regarding Trump's democratic principles. He responded that previous Republican and Democratic presidents had adhered to core American values and protected democracy. Del Toro affirmed, "When you have someone who doesn't align to those core principles, it makes you wonder, you know, should you be supporting that individual?" When questioned if he had suggested that Trump had a suspicious attitude towards democracy, Del Toro replied, "Absolutely so."

Del Toro later self-reported his remarks to the special counsel, explaining that his intention was to emphasize the importance of strong international alliances. However, he acknowledged that in retrospect, his response should have been delivered more broadly without reference to specific candidates.

In response to the Office of Special Counsel's findings, Del Toro's lawyer, Michael Bromwich, argued that Del Toro's remarks were spontaneous and unpremeditated and did not directly violate the Hatch Act as he did not mention Trump's name. Nonetheless, Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger emphasized in the report that Del Toro had crossed a legal line and expressed concern over his unwillingness to acknowledge the mistake.

The report also mentioned that Del Toro had issued a directive to the Navy force, emphasizing the apolitical nature of the Department of the Navy and the importance of public trust and confidence.

This development comes after two Democratic members of Congress raised concerns about the military being involved in political activities during the presidential election. Violations of the Hatch Act can result in penalties such as termination, suspension, demotion, and fines up to $1,000. However, it is rare for federal employees to face severe consequences for such violations.

With this report, the focus is now on the ramifications of Del Toro's actions and how they may impact his position as Navy Secretary and the reputation of the Department of the Navy as an apolitical entity.