Peter Navarro, President Donald Trump's top trade adviser, 'knowing and willfully' violated federal law by campaigning against Joe Biden, a federal watchdog found.
Navarro, Assistant to the President and Director of the Office for Trade and Manufacturing Policy, repeatedly violated the Hatch Act when he 'engaged in prohibited political activity' while acting in his official capacity, the Office of the Special Counsel announced in a letter to Trump on Monday.
Those violations include calling Biden 'Beijing Biden' in interviews conducted during the presidential campaign, when Navarro was on government time, and using his official Twitter account to attack the Democratic nominee. .
Navarro was using his official authority to 'affect the result of the 2020 presidential election through both media appearances and social media,' the independent investigative agency reported.
The Hatch Act forbids political campaigning by federal employees while working in their government jobs.
It is up to President Trump to decide what disciplinary action Navarro will face - if any. Punishments could include firing, suspension or reprimand but it's unlikely the president will take any action.
The White House declined to comment on the matter.
Peter Navarro, President Donald Trump's top trade adviser, 'knowing and willfully' violated federal law by campaigning against Joe Biden
And the issue would not hold over into the Biden administration. Once a person leaves government serve - as Navarro would do once Trump was no longer in office - any violations become moot.
The watchdog agency found at least six media interviews from May through October of this year that Navarro attacked Biden and/or his running mate Kamala Harris, which they say violates federal law.
Navarro attacked Biden for his policy on China, accusing him of being 'bought' by the communist nation and nicknamed him 'Beijing Biden.'
He made similar attacks on Biden via his @PeterNavarro45 official Twitter account.
Navarro told Fox News' Maria Bartiromo in September 6th interview that when it came to trade policy it was 'Beijing Biden vs. Made in America Donald J. Trump.'
And Navarro said in an August 28 interview with Fox News that Biden is going to 'crash the stock market' if elected.
The White House Counsel's Office argued to the Office of Special Counsel that Navarro didn't violate the federal law.
They said Navarro was making 'factual and policy-based statements,' that such statements do not 'constitute advocacy for or against a candidate,' and are 'acceptable for him to make in his official capacity.
The Office of the Special Counsel (OSC) is not to be confused with special counsel Robert Mueller and his investigation. They are separate entities.
Navarro referred to Joe Biden as 'Beijing Biden,' which was a violation of the Hatch Act,a government watchdog group found
President Donald Trump will decide any disciplinary action Navarro will face
At least 14 senior Trump political appointees have been cited by OSC for Hatch Act violations.
The group also announced in October it is investigating Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's speech to the Republican National Convention as a potential Hatch Act violation.
Last summer, the OSC recommended President Trump fire his then counselor Kellyanne Conway for repeated violations of the Hatch Act.
It cited comments Conway made on Fox News about former Vice President Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, Amy Klobuchar, and Beto O'Rourke as violations of the law.
Trump took no action against Conway who left the administration of her own accord this year.
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