WASHINGTON — Editor's Note: The below video aired on March 18, 2021
Marcia Fudge's first week as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development has apparently come with a bit of controversy.
On Friday, The Washington Post reported that the Northeast Ohio native and former congresswoman from Ohio's 11th district may have committed a violation of the Hatch Act during remarks made in the White House Briefing Room.
Fudge was making her first public appearance at the White House as Housing Secretary to discuss the American Rescue Plan relief package and how it can help aid the homeless on Thursday. During her time at the podium, Fudge would not answer a question about who she would endorse in the race to fill her seat in the upcoming special election.
However, she did choose to answer a question about who may replace retiring U.S. Senator Rob Portman in next year's election.
“I have two friends that are thinking about it,” Fudge told reporters. “Tim Ryan of course is thinking about. I understand Nan Whaley is thinking about. I mean I think we’re going to put a good person in that race no matter who we choose, but they’re both friends. I think we have a good shot at it. I know people have written off Ohio. I haven’t written off Ohio. I believe we can win the Senate race.”
The Hatch Act prohibits officials from the executive branch from engaging in political campaigns and related activities in an official capacity.
The Post reached out to the Office of the Special Counsel, which handles Hatch Act investigations, about whether a case has been opened into Fudge’s comments. While they declined to answer, an official with the office, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly, outlined how the comments could be in violation.
“If there is a government employee speaking from the White House briefing room and is there in their official capacity, then they’re prohibited from engaging in political activity while they’re speaking,” the official said.