WASHINGTON (TND) — Two Republican attorneys general on Thursday filed a complaint against Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, alleging he violated federal laws.
Austin Knudsen of Montana and Kris Kobach of Kansas wrote to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) accusing Cardona of violating the Hatch Act, a law restricting which political activities elected officials can engage in. Cardona violated the law on at least two occasions, the prosecutors wrote.
“Earlier this month, on at least two separate occasions, Cardona and an unidentified spokesperson used their official office to engage in political activity when attacking Republican elected officials for successfully enjoining the Department of Education’s lawless loan forgiveness program,” a press release reads.
Cardona also allegedly told student loan borrowers in a letter “President Biden and I are determined to lower costs for student loan borrowers, to make repaying student debt affordable and realistic, and to build on our separate efforts that have already provided relief to 4.75 million Americans – no matter how many times Republican elected officials try to stop us.”
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“The inferences are that Mr. Cardona consciously chose to use government resources for political activities, including to affect the upcoming Presidential election," Knudsen wrote. “We note that OSC has recommended a President’s senior advisor be removed from federal service for repeatedly violating the Hatch Act by making statements directed at the success of a President’s reelection campaign. OSC should follow that precedent here.”
An Education Department spokesperson, however, told The National Desk (TND) Cardona’s conduct was within the legal limits of his position.
“The statements were factually accurate descriptions of the lawsuits, were for the purpose of addressing potential borrower confusion about the status of their loans in the wake of the court decisions, and did not violate the Hatch Act,” the spokesperson wrote via email.
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