U.S. OFFICE OF Special Counsel seeks Disciplinary Action against Federal Employee for Hatch Act Violation FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 3/21/05 WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC)
has filed a complaint for disciplinary action against Jeffrey Eisinger, a
Small Business Administration (SBA) employee in Fresno, California for
violation of the Hatch Act. Mr. Eisinger, an SBA attorney and an official of
the Fresno County (CA) Green Party, is charged with engaging in political
activity on behalf of the Green Party while on duty in his government office
building, in violation of the Hatch Act. OSC filed the complaint with the
Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) on January 13, 2005. The Hatch Act prohibits federal executive branch
employees from engaging in political activity while on duty, in any room or
building used for official duties by an individual employed or holding
office in the U.S. government, while wearing a uniform or official insignia
identifying the office or position of the employee, or using any vehicle
owned or leased by the government. Political activity has been defined as
activity directed toward the success or failure of a political party,
candidate for a partisan political office or partisan political group. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is an independent investigative and prosecutorial agency and operates as a secure channel for disclosures of whistleblower complaints and abuse of authority. Its primary mission is to safeguard the merit system in Federal employment by protecting Federal employees and applicants from prohibited personnel practices, especially retaliation for whistleblowing. OSC also has jurisdiction over the Hatch Act and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). For more information please visit our web site at www.osc.gov or call 1-800-872-9855. |
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