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left-of-center2012

(34,195 posts) Wed Aug 5, 2020, 01:59 PM Aug 2020

GOP senator on Trump accepting nomination at White House: 'Is that even legal?'

Senate Republican Whip John Thune (S.D.) on Wednesday raised possible legal concerns when asked about President Trump potentially accepting the Republican presidential nomination on the South Lawn of the White House. “Is that even legal?” Thune asked when reporters queried him about Republican National Convention planners thinking about having Trump accept his party’s nomination for a second term on White House grounds.

“I assume that’s not something that you could do. I assume there’s some Hatch Act issues or something,” he said. “I don’t know the answer to that and I haven’t heard him say that, but I think anything to do with federal property would seem to me to be problematic.”

Trump said Wednesday that accepting the nomination at the White House would “be the easiest from the standpoint of security. We’re thinking about doing it from the White House because there’s no movement and it’s easy.”

The Hatch Act prohibits partisan political activity by a federal employee in a government room or building or any room or building occupied in the discharge of official duties, according to a memo posted by the Department of the Interior’s ethics office.

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/510671-gop-senator-on-trump-accepting-nomination-at-white-house-is-that-even-legal

13 replies

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GOP senator on Trump accepting nomination at White House: 'Is that even legal?' (Original Post) left-of-center2012 Aug 2020 OP

Since when does that matter? lame54 Aug 2020 #1

Think of all the illegal precedents that Trump has created in 4 years. OAITW r.2.0 Aug 2020 #2

I thought the same thing. NCDem47 Aug 2020 #10

Who's going to stop him? The Blue Flower Aug 2020 #3

He continues to give the GOP ScratchCat Aug 2020 #4

I believe that the Hatch Act exempts the Pres and VP... Thomas Hurt Aug 2020 #5

He could move it to his hotel. peacefreak2.0 Aug 2020 #6

I'm surprised he didn't. tanyev Aug 2020 #13

But he's learned his lesson MagickMuffin Aug 2020 #7

Using government property for political elections is against ethics rules for other offices. The Wielding Truth Aug 2020 #8

I distinctly remember the fuss about an allegation Al GORE made a campaign phone call from the offic UTUSN Aug 2020 #9

Laws are for small people DSandra Aug 2020 #11

He'll do what he wants & no one will stop him. CrispyQ Aug 2020 #12

lame54

(35,302 posts)

1. Since when does that matter?

Reply to left-of-center2012 (Original post)

Wed Aug 5, 2020, 02:01 PM

Aug 2020

OAITW r.2.0

(24,528 posts)

2. Think of all the illegal precedents that Trump has created in 4 years.

Reply to left-of-center2012 (Original post)

Wed Aug 5, 2020, 02:02 PM

Aug 2020

It will be fun to see how Republicans react when Democrats use the same precedents that they are signing off on with this clown.

NCDem47

(2,250 posts)

10. I thought the same thing.

Reply to OAITW r.2.0 (Reply #2)

Wed Aug 5, 2020, 02:29 PM

Aug 2020

Democrats will still take the high ground, but wow. Trump has opened MANY doors to new "norms."

The Blue Flower

(5,443 posts)

3. Who's going to stop him?

Reply to left-of-center2012 (Original post)

Wed Aug 5, 2020, 02:03 PM

Aug 2020

ScratchCat

(1,999 posts)

4. He continues to give the GOP

Reply to left-of-center2012 (Original post)

Wed Aug 5, 2020, 02:03 PM

Aug 2020

Every excuse they need to not offer him the nomination. Every day.

Thomas Hurt

(13,903 posts)

5. I believe that the Hatch Act exempts the Pres and VP...

Reply to left-of-center2012 (Original post)

Wed Aug 5, 2020, 02:09 PM

Aug 2020

so I guess if the two of the stood in front of the cameras and did their thing that would be legal.

Then again the Pig hawked canned goods from the Oval Office so not sure this would be anymore crass.

peacefreak2.0

(1,023 posts)

6. He could move it to his hotel.

Reply to left-of-center2012 (Original post)

Wed Aug 5, 2020, 02:13 PM

Aug 2020

SOB could pick up more of the grift. Never miss an opportunity.

tanyev

(42,589 posts)

13. I'm surprised he didn't.

Reply to peacefreak2.0 (Reply #6)

Wed Aug 5, 2020, 04:53 PM

Aug 2020

And actually, campaign money spent at his hotel doesn’t seem as bad to me as using the White House for his campaign speech. I guess the one thing you can always count on Donald Trump to do is make the worst possible choice in any given situation.

MagickMuffin

(15,949 posts)

7. But he's learned his lesson

Reply to left-of-center2012 (Original post)

Wed Aug 5, 2020, 02:14 PM

Aug 2020

I promise!

The Wielding Truth

(11,415 posts)

8. Using government property for political elections is against ethics rules for other offices.

Reply to left-of-center2012 (Original post)

Wed Aug 5, 2020, 02:23 PM

Aug 2020

https://ethics.house.gov/campaign/general-prohibition-against-using-official-resources-campaign-or-political-purposes#housebuildings

General Prohibition Against Using Official Resources for Campaign or
Political Purposes
As detailed below, official resources of the House must, as a general rule, be
used for the performance of official business of the House, and hence those
resources may not be used for campaign or political purposes. The laws and rules
referenced in this section reflect ―the basic principle that government funds should
not be spent to help incumbents gain reelection.‖3
What are the ―official resources‖ to which this basic rule applies? Certainly
the funds appropriated for Member, committee, and other House offices are official
resources, as are the goods and services purchased with those funds. Accordingly,
among the resources that generally may not be used for campaign or political
purposes are congressional office equipment (including the computers, telephones,
and fax machines), office supplies (including official stationery and envelopes), and
congressional staff time.