Watchdog says Navy Secretary broke the law by criticizing Trump and supporting Biden.

Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro has found himself in hot water after publicly endorsing President Joe Biden’s reelection and criticizing former President Donald Trump while on official duty overseas. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel has deemed Del Toro’s actions as a violation of the Hatch Act, which prohibits U.S. officials from engaging in political activity while on duty.

Del Toro made these controversial statements during a speech at the Royal United Services Institute in late January. He expressed his belief in the need for President Biden’s leadership, stating, “The United States and the world need the mature leadership of President Biden.” Del Toro also raised concerns about Trump aligning himself with autocratic rulers who do not adhere to democratic principles.

Following his speech, Del Toro was interviewed by “BBC News Sunday,” where he further elaborated on his criticism of Trump. When asked about the former president’s democratic principles, Del Toro questioned whether supporting someone who does not align with core American values is appropriate.

Despite self-reporting his remarks to the special counsel and attributing them to a focus on strong international alliances, Del Toro failed to acknowledge his mistake in violating the Hatch Act. Special counsel Hampton Dellinger emphasized the importance of upholding the Department of the Navy as an apolitical entity, free from political influence.

In response to the findings, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh highlighted the need to maintain the trust and confidence of the American people by avoiding actions that imply support for any political party or candidate. Navy Capt. Clay Doss confirmed that the matter would be addressed through the appropriate process within the Navy.

While Del Toro’s lawyer argued that his remarks were spontaneous and not premeditated, the special counsel maintained that the comments crossed a legal line and called for accountability. Despite the potential consequences of violating the Hatch Act, including termination or fines, penalties against federal employees are rarely enforced.

It remains to be seen how the Navy will proceed in light of these findings, as the Department of the Navy strives to uphold its apolitical nature. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of separating politics from official duties to maintain public trust and confidence in government institutions.