Jim Jordan says FTC Chair Lina Khan may have violated Hatch Act

[Ray Bogan]

House Republicans say FTC Chair Lina Khan may have violated the Hatch Act, a federal law that limits political activities by federal employees. Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, accused Khan of appearing at campaign-style events and advocating for the election of Democratic candidates. 

In a letter to Khan, Jordan said “Federal law and FTC ethics rules prohibit you from participating in political events, and from using appropriated funds for any political activity.” 

Jordan cited reporting from Punchbowl News which said Khan spent a week on the road in early October with five Democrats who are running for reelection. The events took place in Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin and Arizona, and Khan discussed topics including corporate power and worker freedom, price gouging and health care. 

The letter to Khan stated: “Your campaign-style tour raises the perception—at a minimum—that you violated ethical standards to advocate for the election of partisan political candidates.” 

According to the Office of the Special Counsel, the Hatch Act’s purpose is to ensure that federal programs are administered in a nonpartisan fashion and to protect federal employees from political coercion in the workplace. 

Jordan wants Khan to tell him who scheduled the events, who paid for the travel and accommodations, and also provide any advice or guidance Khan received from the agency’s ethics official’s regarding her appearances. Khan and the FTC have yet to publicly respond to Jordan.