United States Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro has been found in violation of the Hatch Act, a federal law designed to keep government officials from engaging in partisan political activities while on duty — a ruling has sent ripples through both Washington and the U.S. military.
Del Toro used his position to influence the upcoming 2024 election which is a clear example of election interference, critics say.
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) released a report Thursday detailing Del Toro’s infractions, which occurred during an official overseas trip in January 2024.
The violation occurred during a speech Del Toro made at the Royal United Services Institute in London and in a subsequent interview with BBC News. In both instances, the Navy Secretary made remarks that the OSC determined crossed the line into politics, a clear violation of the Hatch Act’s provisions.
“The United States and the world need the mature leadership of President Biden,” Del Toro said in his London speech.
“We cannot afford to have a president who aligns himself with autocratic dictators and rulers whose interpretation of democratic principles is suspicious at best,” he added, a clear shot at former President Donald Trump.
While he did not mention Trump specifically by name, the implication was clear.
In the BBC interview that followed, Del Toro repeated his comments when questioned about Trump.
“When you have someone who doesn’t align to those core principles, it makes you wonder, you know, should you be supporting that individual?” he told the mainstream British news channel.
When asked directly if Trump had a poor attitude towards democracy, Del Toro doubled down.
“Absolutely so,” he said.
Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger was unequivocal in his assessment of Del Toro’s actions.
“When speaking in his official capacity on a taxpayer-funded trip, Secretary Del Toro encouraged electoral support for one candidate over another in the upcoming presidential election. By doing so, he crossed a legal line and violated the Hatch Act,” Dellinger stated in the report.
In the past, Del Toro had made statements emphasizing the importance of keeping politics out of the military.
In July 2023, Del Toro had said, “It is more important than ever for us to remember that the [Department of the Navy] is an apolitical body… Public trust and confidence depend on this.”
Del Toro self-reported the incident to the OSC several days after it occurred, stating that his intention was to focus on national security and the importance of strong international alliances.
“In retrospect, I believe my response should have been delivered more broadly without reference to specific candidates,” he admitted in his report.
The Pentagon has responded cautiously to the report. Spokeswoman Sabrina Singh stated during a briefing that the department is reviewing the OSC’s findings.
“It’s important that we maintain the trust and confidence of the American people, which requires us to avoid any action that could imply the support of any political party, candidate or campaign,” Singh emphasized.
The Hatch Act, enacted in 1939, aims to prevent federal employees from engaging in partisan political activities while on duty. Violations can result in disciplinary actions ranging from reprimands to dismissal, though severe penalties are rarely imposed.
There has been no official decision on the consequences for Del Toro.