Oversight Hearing to Examine Campaign, Fund-Raising Role of White House Political Office

Press Release

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., today announced a hearing on Wednesday, July 16th to examine the White House Office of Political Affairs (also known as the Office of Political Strategy and Outreach). The hearing, titled, "White House Office of Political Affairs: Is Supporting Candidates and Campaign Fund-Raising an Appropriate Use of a Government Office?" will feature current and former White House staff as well as U.S. Special Counsel Carolyn Lerner, who the leads the agency responsible for enforcing the Hatch Act. The Hatch Act limits certain political activities of federal employees to ensure that official government business is separate from partisan political activity.

"In an effort to appease its political allies, the Obama Administration broadcast its intention to re-open a political office within the White House to assist in partisan election efforts and fundraising," said Chairman Issa. "This follows a serious pattern of behavior at the highest levels of the Administration. FormerSecretary of Labor Hilda Solis and former Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, both members of President Obama's cabinet, were faulted by the Office of Special Counsel for inappropriately using their offices in violation of the Hatch Act. This hearing will examine abuses of taxpayer funds for political gain and the level of White House commitment to preventing them."

In January 2014, the White House announced the reopening of the Office of Political Affairs (OPA) under a new name, heightening concerns about the Administration's compliance with the Hatch Act. The reopened OPA will reportedly focus on the needs of Democratic candidates, including fundraising. President Obama closed OPA in 2011, just days before the U.S. Office of Special Counsel issued a report that found the basic structure of OPA violated federal law, and that the political activities of OPA staff amounted to misuse of taxpayer funds.

Scott Coffina, a former Associate Counsel to the President during the Bush Administration, and Carolyn Lerner, U.S. Special Counsel, have confirmed that they will testify next week. David Simas, Director of the White House Office of Political Strategy and Outreach, will testify under subpoena after declining the Committee's July 3rd invitation.

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