Watchdog group requests Hatch Act probe of Zinke's appearance at Virgin Islands

A watchdog group is asking the Justice Department’s Office of Special Council to open a Hatch Act investigation into Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke after POLITICO reported he had appeared at a political fundraiser in the U.S. Virgin Islands while on an official trip less than a month after being confirmed. Donors who gave the Virgin Islands Republican Party between $1,500 and $5,000 per couple were invited to get their photos taken with Zinke at the March 30 event, according to a copy of the invitation seen by POLITICO and Zinke’s official schedule. The nonprofit Campaign Legal Center says that activity may have run afoul of the federal law prohibiting federal officials from using government resources to engage in partisan political activity....more