Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, has called for an investigation after reports surfaced that a former FBI official violated the Hatch Act through political posts on social media. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel, which has exclusive jurisdiction over civil Hatch Act matters, confirmed that the official, Timothy Thibault, had violated the act. Grassley had referred Thibault to the Office of Special Counsel after whistleblowers alleged that he engaged in prohibited political activity on social media.
According to the whistleblowers, Thibault played a role in the opening of the investigation into the Trump campaign and its associates based on information from a left-aligned organization. Grassley’s investigative referral revealed that Thibault circumvented normal process and procedure to open full field investigations. The whistleblowers also claimed that Thibault’s opening memo calling for a full investigation was scrubbed and diluted to remove details of the sources’ political bias. Thibault was later removed from his position as an assistant special agent in charge and resigned.
The Office of Special Counsel’s investigation concluded that Thibault violated the Hatch Act. The act prohibits federal civilian executive branch employees from using their official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election. It also prohibits employees from engaging in political activity while on duty, in federal rooms or buildings, wearing an official uniform or insignia, or using a government vehicle. Employees in agencies like the FBI are further restricted from participating in partisan political management and campaigning.
The Office of Special Counsel reviewed Thibault’s social media activity, including his posts on Twitter and LinkedIn. One post from July 2020, in which Thibault retweeted a message from the Lincoln Project, a partisan political group, was deemed a violation of the Hatch Act. The Office of Special Counsel determined that Thibault engaged in modern-day leafletting on social media by sharing a message from the partisan political group.
Grassley emphasized the importance of ensuring that federal law enforcement agencies are not influenced by political bias. He called on the FBI to restore public trust through transparency and cooperation with congressional oversight. Grassley warned that political bias within the FBI erodes public confidence and urged the bureau to separate official business from political viewpoints.
The investigation into Thibault’s Hatch Act violation highlights the need for accountability and adherence to ethical standards within the FBI. Grassley’s call for investigation aims to address concerns of political bias and restore public confidence in the agency.
Brooke Singman is a political correspondent and reporter for Digital, Channel, and FOX Business. Stay updated on the latest news from the 2024 campaign trail and access exclusive interviews and political content by subscribing to her newsletter.
