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Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius violated federal law by using her Cabinet position to campaign for President Obama, federal investigators said Wednesday.
The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) said Sebelius violated federal law in a February speech where she made "extemporaneous partisan remarks."
Sebelius voiced support for President Obama and other Democrats during an speech at a Human Rights Campaign event in Charlotte, N.C. The OSC said her comments violated the Hatch Act, which prohibits public officials from campaigning in their official capacities.
Sebelius strayed from her prepared remarks to rally support for Obama.
"One of the imperatives is to make sure that we not only come together here in Charlotte to present the nomination to the president, but we make sure that in November, he continues to be president for another four years," she said, according to the OSC report.
She also ventured into state politics, urging the defeat of an anti-gay-marriage ballot proposal and saying it's "hugely important to make sure that we reelect the president and elect a Democratic governor here in North Carolina," the OSC report says.
Public officials are allowed to make political statements on their own time, but the Office of Special Counsel determined that Sebelius was appearing at the HRC event in her capacity as HHS secretary.
The investigative office said HHS reclassified the trip from "official" to "political" after Sebelius made the comments.
The Democratic National Committee also reimbursed the government for the cost of the trip, according to the OSC.
The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) said Sebelius violated federal law in a February speech where she made "extemporaneous partisan remarks."
Sebelius voiced support for President Obama and other Democrats during an speech at a Human Rights Campaign event in Charlotte, N.C. The OSC said her comments violated the Hatch Act, which prohibits public officials from campaigning in their official capacities.
Sebelius strayed from her prepared remarks to rally support for Obama.
"One of the imperatives is to make sure that we not only come together here in Charlotte to present the nomination to the president, but we make sure that in November, he continues to be president for another four years," she said, according to the OSC report.
She also ventured into state politics, urging the defeat of an anti-gay-marriage ballot proposal and saying it's "hugely important to make sure that we reelect the president and elect a Democratic governor here in North Carolina," the OSC report says.
Public officials are allowed to make political statements on their own time, but the Office of Special Counsel determined that Sebelius was appearing at the HRC event in her capacity as HHS secretary.
The investigative office said HHS reclassified the trip from "official" to "political" after Sebelius made the comments.
The Democratic National Committee also reimbursed the government for the cost of the trip, according to the OSC.
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