Becerra violated Hatch Act, investigation finds

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra violated a law that restricts political activities of federal employees when he advocated for the election of Senator Alex Padilla, Democrat of California, at a Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute event in the fall, the Office of Special Counsel has determined.

In a letter Tuesday relaying the finding to President Biden, Special Counsel Henry J. Kerner said that Becerra had violated the Hatch Act when he spoke “in his official capacity” at the institute’s annual awards gala in September.

“The Hatch Act prohibits federal employees from using their official authority or influence to affect the outcome of an election,” Kerner said. “In delivering his speech, Secretary Becerra impermissibly mixed his personal electoral preference with official remarks.”

In a response to the findings, Becerra said he regretted what he described as an “inadvertent violation.”