Expert: No Hatch Act violation with officers at Trump event

Published: Apr 03, 2024 Duration: 00:04:15 Category: News & Politics

Tags : Michigan news 8 West Michigan WOODTV Nexstar News at 5 News at 6 News at 10 News at 11 The Seven Emily Linnert Donovan Long Susan Shaw Brian Sterling Michele DeSelms Brittany Flowers Teresa Weakley Amanda Porter

Trending searches: hatch act

Intro THANK LIKE WHEN FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WAS IN GRAND RAPIDS YESTERDAY. YOU SAW SOME SHERIFFS STANDING BEHIND HIM. >> SHOULD THEY HAVE BEEN THERE SHERIFF'S OFFICES RECEIVE FEDERAL FUNDS AND THE HATCH ACT LIMITS POLITICAL ACTIVITIES BY GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES INVOLVED IN FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAMS NEWS EIGHT'S AMANDA PORTER SPOKE WITH THE LEGAL PROFESSOR Expert COOLEY LAW. AMANDA HAS A DEEPER DISCUSSION OF THE HATCH ACT APPLIES. I LISTEN TO THE MANY VIEWERS AND WANTED TO GIVE YOU A DIRECT ANSWER STRAIGHT FROM THE MOUTH OF ILLEGAL PROFESSOR. I TOOK THE QUESTION ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDING BEHIND FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND HIS RALLY YESTERDAY STRAIGHT TO COOLEY LAW PROFESSOR JEFF REIDY SWARTZ. HE TOLD ME THE OFFICERS STANDING BEHIND TRUMP OR NOT IN VIOLATION OF THE HATCH ACT. >> WERE THESE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS STANDING BEHIND FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AT HIS RALLY IN VIOLATION OF THE HATCH ACT. MANY WATCHING WANTED TO KNOW. SO I INTERVIEWED COOLEY LAW PROFESSOR GEOFFREY DE SWART WHO SAYS THERE ARE A COUPLE ISSUES TO CONSIDER. NUMBER ONE WAS IF THEY WERE LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT WERE REGULAR STREET CARS ARE DETECTIVES ON DUTY FOR DONALD TRUMP'S PROTECTION DETAIL. >> INTO FORMER PRESIDENT IS PAYING FOR THEIR DUTY. TIME THEIR OFF-DUTY TIME PROVIDING PROTECTION FOR HIMSELF THROUGH HIS CAMPAIGN. THAT'S OKAY BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN HIRED TO DO THAT DUTY BY THE CAMPAIGN. SECONDLY SORT EXPLAINED ABOUT REGULAR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER SITTING IN THE CROWD BEHIND TRUMP. >> THAT DOES CREATE A PROBLEM UNDER THE HATCH ACT BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN THIS COUNTRY RECEIVES FEDERAL FUNDS. >> SO THE ISSUE IS WHETHER THE DAY AS THE ULTIMATE RECIPIENT, FOR EXAMPLE, THEIR TOOLS AND OR THEIR WEAPONS, WHATEVER THEY MAY BE ARE PAID FOR BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. YOU HAVE TO LOOK TO SEE WHETHER THE PERSON WHO'S IN CHARGE OF THE DISPERSEMENT OF FEDERAL FUNDS IS THERE IN THAT PERSON? IS THERE THAN IT REALLY IS. A PROBLEM VAN BUREN COUNTY SHERIFF DAN ABBOTT AND ALLEGAN COUNTY SHERIFF FRANK BAKER FOR BOTH AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE. >> ELECTED OFFICIALS LIKE SHERIFF'S SWARTZ SAYS ARE EXEMPT. BECAUSE THEY'RE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL. >> AND THEREFORE UNDER THE HATCH ACT RESTATE OFFICER OR A STATE EMPLOYEE. BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE PARTISAN ELECTED OFFICIAL. THEY ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE HATCH ACT. >> THE GOVERNOR ISN'T COVERED UNDER THE HATCH ACT OR MANY OTHER STATE LEADERS. >> LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ARE ALL NOT COVERED UNDER THE HATCH ACT. SOME OTHER OFFICE HOLDERS MAY BE IF THEY ARE INVOLVED IN AGAIN, RECEIVING FEDERAL OR DISPERSING FEDERAL THERE ARE OTHER STATE OFFICIALS WHO ARE ALSO EXEMPT UNDER THE HATCH ACT. PEOPLE WHO ARE WHO ARE NOT GLASS OF WINE UNDER THE STATE MUNICIPAL MARRIAGE OR CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM. I CAN ALSO BE EXEMPTED DEPENDING UPON WHETHER THEY WORK FOR AN EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT OR NOT POLITICS. OF COURSE, CAN BE CONFUSING. BUT THE ANSWER IS NO. THEY'RE ENGAGED. THEY'RE NOT COVERED UNDER THE HATCH ACT FOR THE FORMER PRESIDENT EVEN THOUGH HE RECEIVES A PENSION AND FEDERAL FUNDS TO RUN HIS OFFICE AND HIS PROTECTION DETAIL. >> SWARTZ SAYS GENERALLY SPEAKING, YOU DON'T NORMALLY SEE PEOPLE CHARGED UNDER THE HATCH ACT FOR JUST BEING AT AN EVENT LIKE A RALLY. IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IS NOT A FEDERAL OFFICER. IT IS NOT A PART OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THE PEOPLE AROUND TRUMP ALSO WERE PART OF THE FEDERAL Statement GOVERNMENT. SO THE HATCH ACT DOESN'T COVER THEM. NOW THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY SHERIFF FRANK BAKER AND PROSECUTING ATTORNEY MAUREEN COOK RELEASED A STATEMENT EARLIER TODAY READING IN PART I DEEPLY APPRECIATE PRESIDENT TRUMP TAKING THE TIME TO MEET WITH PROSECUTOR COOK SHERIFFS AND SEVERAL LEGISLATORS TO DISCUSS WAYS TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFER. WE HAD A GREAT DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW OUR UNSECURED BORDER IS ALLOWING THE TRAFFICKING OF ILLEGAL DRUGS INTO OUR COUNTRY. I WAS ABLE TO SPEAK WITH HIM ABOUT THE IMPACT METHAMPHETAMINE AND FENTANYL IS MAKING ON OUR COMMUNITIES BAKER SAID.

Share your thoughts

Related Transcripts

WMU students move in, excited for ‘new beginnings’

Category: News & Politics

Community seniors and those with preexisting conditions. don't look lane news. >> thousands of western michigan university students are saying goodbye to parents and hello to roommates as they move into campus this week. residents live says of officials say it has been a smooth process thanks... Read more

Expert: No Hatch Act violation with officers at Trump event

Category: News & Politics

Right. thank you, blake. when former president donald trump was in grand rapids yesterday. you saw some sheriffs standing behind him. >> should they have been their sheriff's offices receive federal funds and the hatch act limits political activities by government employees involved in federally... Read more

Docs: Man called 911 after starting Kzoo fire

Category: News & Politics

Tonight, court documents are showing what led up to the arrest of a man police say is behind several different fires around kalamazoo. >> investigators say that he stuck around to watch the buildings burn and even called 911 for one of them. news eight's josh sanchez has more on the arrest... Read more

Daily 8 for August 26, 2024

Category: News & Politics

[music] [music] hello and welcome everyone to your monday edition of the daily 8 here on the news8 live desk phil pki here with the top eight stories you need to know for the day we will have a look at your forecast coming up in just a little bit but first we want to head over to benton harbor that... Read more

After July 4, fireworks stores stay open through Labor Day

Category: News & Politics

Unclear as to how that happened. with 4th of july weekend coming to an end. the busiest time of the year is over. for fireworks sellers. many pop-up shops have already closed or will shut down soon. but other sellers are staying open through the summer news eight's foreign tolleson has a closer... Read more

After water main break, Grand Rapids denies residents’ claims

Category: News & Politics

>> it's been over 2 months since a water main break on grand rapids eastside that impacted nearly 200 homes now months later, the neighbors in that area are working to pick up the pieces with no financial help from the city. news eight's adrian doria spoke with neighbors still affected by... Read more

Robinette’s corn maze features nostalgic design

Category: News & Politics

Or we can actually do that. all right. thanks, ellen. while corn maze in the grand rapids area is returning this fall with a nostalgia twist. >> robin, it's apple house and winery is one of about 75 farms across the country that will create peanuts theme corn maze. it's all in celebration... Read more

Trending now on WOODTV.com

Category: News & Politics

To inspect nightmare. tree, lucky to be alive. >> digital host phil persky joins us now with a look at what's trending online today and fill one story in particular is getting a lot of attention online. that's right. a million rick. we look forward address key sunday story. every single weekend... Read more

Daily 8 for August 23, 2024

Category: News & Politics

[music] hello and welcome everyone to your friday edition of the daily 8 on the news 8 live des phil penari here with another set of the top stories you need to know for your fridays again we are getting ready to head into the weekend let's jump straight into things with our first story that takes us... Read more

JD Vance criticizes Gotion plant at rally near Big Rapids

Category: News & Politics

>> michigan continues to be on the radar of both major political parties as they try to win the white house. republican vice presidential candidate jd vance was back in the state again today marking his 4th visit to michigan since being nominated last month. >> political reporter rick albin... Read more

Comstock Park neighborhood marks one year since tornado with block party

Category: News & Politics

Michael avenue. he's not been heard from or seen sense. today marks one year since an ef one tornado ripped through areas north of grand rapids. you may remember we were tracking it live warning you to what was going on outside your window >> it really just relax. you we are in the middle.... Read more

Consumers Energy hands out ice, water as crews work to restore power to thousands

Category: News & Politics

>> first tonight, thousands of households around the state continue to count the hours since they lost power tuesday afternoon when a powerful storm system rolled through the region right now. be consumers outage map shows more than 80,000 customers without power areas around cedar springs... Read more