Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker is being investigated for potentially violating the Hatch Act, according to a new report.
CNN reported Wednesday night that Whitaker, who was appointed to temporarily lead the Department of Justice two weeks ago after Jeff Sessions was fired, received donations earlier this year for his failed 2014 Iowa Senate bid.
The donations totaled nearly $9,000, and now federal investigators are probing whether Whitaker violated the 1939 law that prohibits most executive branch employees from participating in political activities.
Whitaker began serving as Sessions' chief of staff in September 2017. He received the donations in January and February.
The United States Office of Special Counsel is a permanent federal agency — independent from the rest of the government — that handles investigations for the Hatch Act and other statutes. It confirmed to CNN that it is investigating Whitaker after watchdog group American Oversight filed a complaint.
William Gustoff was the treasurer of Whitaker's 2014 campaign and told CNN that neither of the two men asked for the donations this year. Further, he said the campaign committee was still open due to outstanding debt.
Democrats have called for Whitaker's appointment to be investigated, particularly after it became clear that he made critical comments about the Russia investigation in 2017 before he joined the DOJ.
The Office of Special Counsel's website says penalties for Hatch Act violations can range from suspension without pay for 30 days to being fired.
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