• Investing
  • Stock
Round Table Thoughts
  • Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Home Economy Ex-FBI official who shut down Hunter Biden lines of investigation violated Hatch Act with anti-Trump posts
Economy

Ex-FBI official who shut down Hunter Biden lines of investigation violated Hatch Act with anti-Trump posts

by January 27, 2024
by January 27, 2024 0 comment
Share
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp
Join Fox News for access to this content
Plus get unlimited access to thousands of articles, videos and more with your free account!
Please enter a valid email address.
By entering your email, you are agreeing to Fox News Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. To access the content, check your email and follow the instructions provided.

EXCLUSIVE: The U.S. Office of Special Counsel determined a former FBI official violated the Hatch Act in his political posts on social media — the same official whistleblowers claimed had shown a ‘pattern of active public partisanship’ which ‘likely affected’ investigations involving former President Trump and Hunter Biden.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, had referred former Washington, D.C., Field Office FBI assistant special agent in charge Timothy Thibault amid allegations that he engaged in prohibited political activity on social media for investigation.

Grassley’s calls for investigation came after whistleblowers approached his office alleging Thibault was instrumental in the opening of the elector investigation into the Trump campaign and its associates based, in part, on information from a left-aligned organization.

The whistleblowers alleged that Thibault did so by ‘circumventing normal process and procedure to open full field investigations.’ 

Grassley had learned through whistleblowers that Thibault’s opening memo calling for a full investigation, which was ultimately approved by FBI Director Chris Wray and Attorney General Merrick Garland, allegedly ‘scrubbed and diluted’ details of the sources’ political bias.

Fox News Digital also had previously reported that Thibault ‘ordered closed’ an avenue of ‘derogatory Hunter Biden reporting’ in October 2020.’ At the time, Grassley and Sen. Ron Johnson were investigating Hunter Biden’s business dealings. Hunter Biden also was under federal investigation at the time–an investigation beginning in 2018.

The FBI ultimately removed Thibault from his post as an assistant special agent in charge. He later resigned. 

Fox News Digital exclusively obtained a letter the Office of Special Counsel sent to Grassley this week.

‘This letter responds to your request that the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigate former FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Timothy Thibault and allegations that he engaged in prohibited political activity on social media,’ the letter states, noting that the Office of Special Counsel has ‘exclusive jurisdiction over civil Hatch Act matters,’ and that Grassley’s investigative referral was passed on to its office.

‘Although Mr. Thibault has left government service, we completed our investigation and concluded that he violated the Hatch Act,’ the OSC wrote.

The Hatch Act governs the political activity of all federal civilian executive branch employees and prohibits them from using their official authority or or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election; knowingly soliciting, accepting, or receiving political contributions from any person; being candidates for public office in partisan elections; and knowingly soliciting or discouraging the political activity of any individual with business before their employing office.

The Hatch Act also prohibits employees from engaging in political activity while on duty, in a federal room or building, wearing an official uniform or insignia, or using a government vehicle.

The OSC explained that employees in agencies like the FBI are ‘further restricted’ and ‘prohibited’ from participating in partisan political management and campaigning by engaging in activity that is ‘in concert’ with a political party, partisan political group or candidate for partisan political office.

OSC explained that when applied to social media, employees are restricted from sharing or retweeting messages from partisan political groups because ‘like traditional leafletting, social media communications also promote the group’s message.’ 

With regard to Thibault’s social media activity, the OSC reviewed his posts on Twitter, now X, and LinkedIn.

One post was from July 2020, in which Thibault retweeted a post from the Lincoln Project. OSC described the group as a ‘hybrid political action committee, which is considered a partisan political group.’

‘The Lincoln Project’s tweet included an article from The Atlantic entitled, ‘Donald Trump is a Broken Man,’’ the OSC states.

‘By retweeting the Lincoln Project’s message, Mr. Thibault engaged in modern-day leafletting on social media,’ the OSC determined, while noting that even though Thibault was ‘on leave’ at the time he retweeted the post, the Hatch Act prohibits all employees, ‘even when they are off duty and away from work.’

‘Accordingly, because Mr. Thibault shared a message from a partisan political group on Twitter, OSC has conduced that he acted in concert with a partisan political group, in violation of the Hatch Act,’ OSC determined.

‘Mr. Thibault has been warned that if in the future he engaged in activity prohibited by the Hatch Act while employed in a Hatch Act-covered position, OSC would consider such activity to be a willful and knowing violation of the law that could result in disciplinary action,’ OSC wrote.

The letter was signed by Ana Galindo-Marrone, the chief of the Hatch Act Unit in the U.S. Office of Special Counsel.

Grassley told Fox News Digital that the American people ‘deserve to have confidence that the officials entrusted to lead the top echelon of our federal law enforcement agencies are not letting political bias infect their work.’

‘These federal employees should not blur their official business with their political viewpoints,’ Grassley stressed, telling Fox News Digital that OSC confirmed that Thibault ‘failed to meet that standard.’

‘I’ve warned that this sort of political bias will erode public confidence in the FBI,’ Grassley told Fox News Digital. ‘It’s up to the bureau to restore that trust through transparency and cooperation with congressional oversight.’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
You Might Also Like
  • Biden admin issues 20-year mining ban as it turns to foreign supply chain amid green energy push
  • Historical marker honoring communist leader comes under fire in New Hampshire
  • FEC complaint alleges coordinated disinformation campaign from Biden’s 2020 run
  • Bitcoin and Ethereum: continued bearish pressure on Friday
Share
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp

previous post
Biden admin cuts funding to controversial UN agency amid allegations members assisted in Hamas massacre
next post
US issues travel warning for Bahamas over spike in murders since new year: ‘Keep a low profile’

You may also like

Soros family helped push Manhattan DA Bragg into power

March 31, 2023

Biden pushed to revoke Al Jazeera credentials after Israeli hostage...

June 12, 2024

Hezbollah claims it doesn’t want expanded war with Israel after...

January 10, 2024

Oil and natural gas: Oil finds new support on Friday

September 30, 2024

Trump rakes in hefty March fundraising haul as campaign aims...

April 4, 2024

Chief Justice John Roberts declines Senate Democrats’ request to testify...

April 26, 2023

Doctors react after Fetterman checks into hospital for clinical depression

February 17, 2023

Byron Donalds responds to AOC’s ‘experience’ jab: ‘She doesn’t know...

October 24, 2023

The Nifty 50 Index: Key Facts and Figures To Know...

October 3, 2024

Hunter’s ex-business associate blasts Biden’s new claim about son’s business...

December 8, 2023

Soros family helped push Manhattan DA Bragg into power

March 31, 2023

Biden pushed to revoke Al Jazeera credentials after Israeli hostage...

June 12, 2024

Hezbollah claims it doesn’t want expanded war with Israel after...

January 10, 2024

Oil and natural gas: Oil finds new support on Friday

September 30, 2024

Trump rakes in hefty March fundraising haul as campaign aims...

April 4, 2024

Chief Justice John Roberts declines Senate Democrats’ request to testify...

April 26, 2023

Doctors react after Fetterman checks into hospital for clinical depression

February 17, 2023

Byron Donalds responds to AOC’s ‘experience’ jab: ‘She doesn’t know...

October 24, 2023

The Nifty 50 Index: Key Facts and Figures To Know...

October 3, 2024

Hunter’s ex-business associate blasts Biden’s new claim about son’s business...

December 8, 2023

    Stay updated with the latest news, exclusive offers, and special promotions. Sign up now and be the first to know! As a member, you'll receive curated content, insider tips, and invitations to exclusive events. Don't miss out on being part of something special.


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent Posts

    • Leadership Rotation Could Confirm Corrective Phase

      May 30, 2025
    • Run Your Stock Portfolio Like a Pro Sports Team

      May 30, 2025
    • U.S. foreign tax bill sends jitters across Wall Street

      May 30, 2025
    • Amazon taps Xbox co-founder to lead new team developing ‘breakthrough’ consumer products

      May 30, 2025
    • Nvidia results spark global chip rally

      May 30, 2025

    Popular Posts

    • 1

      Trump-era China sanctions ended by Biden may be...

      June 27, 2024 2,765 views
    • 2

      Walz’s honeymoon with China gets fresh scrutiny as...

      August 9, 2024 2,472 views
    • 3

      Biden appointee played key role in recruiting Chinese...

      June 25, 2024 2,451 views
    • 4

      Shein’s global ambitions leaves some cybersecurity experts fearful...

      July 10, 2024 2,432 views
    • 5

      Harris VP pick spent years promoting research facility...

      August 29, 2024 2,308 views

    Categories

    • Economy (7,009)
    • Editor's Pick (2,106)
    • Investing (538)
    • Stock (2,580)

    Popular Posts

    • 1

      Trump-era China sanctions ended by Biden may be revived under new House GOP bill

      June 27, 2024
    • 2

      Walz’s honeymoon with China gets fresh scrutiny as Harris camp blasts ‘lying’ critics

      August 9, 2024
    • 3

      Biden appointee played key role in recruiting Chinese businesses to Delaware: ‘Longtime friends’

      June 25, 2024
    • 4

      Shein’s global ambitions leaves some cybersecurity experts fearful of Chinese spy threats

      July 10, 2024
    • 5

      Harris VP pick spent years promoting research facility that collaborated with ‘Chinese military company’

      August 29, 2024

    Latest News

    • Leadership Rotation Could Confirm Corrective Phase

      May 30, 2025
    • Run Your Stock Portfolio Like a Pro Sports Team

      May 30, 2025
    • U.S. foreign tax bill sends jitters across Wall Street

      May 30, 2025

    Categories

    • Economy (7,009)
    • Editor's Pick (2,106)
    • Investing (538)
    • Stock (2,580)

    Disclaimer: RoundTableThoughts.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2024 RoundTableThoughts.com. All Rights Reserved.

    Round Table Thoughts
    • Investing
    • Stock
    Round Table Thoughts
    • Economy
    • Editor’s Pick

    Read alsox

    Ron DeSantis says he will refuse...

    March 31, 2023

    We Don’t Need Regulation (or Statist...

    December 2, 2022

    Karine Jean-Pierre mistakenly refers to Kamala...

    January 18, 2023
    Sign In

    Keep me signed in until I sign out

    Forgot your password?

    Password Recovery

    A new password will be emailed to you.

    Have received a new password? Login here