HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra violated Hatch Act, Office of Special Counsel finds

The Office of Special Counsel found that Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra violated federal law.

Special Counsel Henry Kerner sent a letter to President Biden regarding his HHS secretary’s violation of the Hatch Act by publicly expressing support for California Democrat Senator Alex Padilla’s re-election while appearing in an official capacity.

"As explained in the accompanying report, OSC concluded that Secretary Becerra violated the Hatch Act by expressing support for Senator Alex Padilla’s reelection while speaking in his official capacity at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Annual Awards Gala on September 15, 2022," Kerner wrote.