“A sheriff in Upstate New York violated a federal law barring civil servants from partisan political activity by flying a ‘Making America Great Again’ flag from an on-duty patrol boat during a pro-Trump flotilla last summer, investigators said. At a campaign boat rally on Oneida Lake in August, Oswego County Sheriff Donald Hilton was photographed by the Post-Standard aboard a sheriff’s office boat providing security, with the banner depicting President Donald Trump’s face superimposed over an American flag. Hilton, a Republican, acknowledged that an attendee gave deputies the flag and he approved its exhibition, drawing criticism from residents and other officials, as well as an investigation by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel.”
“In a letter sent to the sheriff on Thursday, the federal agency said it determined that Hilton had violated the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees – or officials in charge of federally funded departments – from using their official position to influence partisan elections. The anti-corruption law was applied unevenly in the Trump administration, and some of Trump’s closest advisers egregiously violated it to promote his campaign, according to government watchdog groups. The federal officials said no disciplinary action will be taken but warned Hilton against future prohibited political activity” – Washington Post.