HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra Found to Have Violated Hatch Act.

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel found that Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra violated the Hatch Act by publicly expressing support for California Democrat Sen. Alex Padilla’s reelection while appearing in an official capacity. The Hatch Act prohibits federal employees from using their official authority or influence to affect the outcome of an election. Becerra called his words an "inadvertent violation" and said he regrets them, and added that he "did not realize at the time that my off-the-cuff remarks" regarding his "personal voting intentions were in violation of the Hatch Act."