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Cabinet officials on the campaign trail draw Hatch Act complaints
Watchdog group CREW has filed complaints over appearances by Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, as experts say several cabinet officials are casual about the Hatch Act before the midterms.
On air: Chip Darnell and Hank Ledger on BBN TonightPublished
Photo: U.S. Department of Homeland Security · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBNWatch it as it aired: Chip Darnell and Hank Ledger on this story, from BBN Tonight at 7:59 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are The New York Times's, the jokes are ours.
At a glance
- First reported by The New York Times: “Cabinet Officials on the Campaign Trail? Ethics Experts Say Some Are Breaking the Law.”, with reporting from CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington).
- Covered on BBN on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at 7:59 PM ET on BBN Tonight, by Chip Darnell and Hank Ledger.
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- The New York TimesCabinet Officials on the Campaign Trail? Ethics Experts Say Some Are Breaking the Law.
- CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington)The Trump administration’s midterms Hatch Act violation rampage - CREW September 14, 2026 · facts used on air
What BBN said about it
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorEthics experts say Trump cabinet officials are being lax about the Hatch Act, the federal law that limits campaigning by government employees, as they stump for Republicans in tight midterm races.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorWell, that's a lot of folks showing up for their neighbors! Does it matter that they're cabinet secretaries?
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorCREW says it does.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorIts complaint says Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin was introduced by his official title at a fundraiser and discussed his department's work.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThen it filed another over a Fox News appearance.
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Photo: Bernard Picton · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Photo: GearedBull / WTCA · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
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Photo: Manfred Werner ( talk · contribs ) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Photo: Gage Skidmore · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Wednesday, October 28, 2026 · the U.S. archive · all months
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