By james art EXCLUSIVE — Congressman Cory Mills (R-FL) is asking Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate Vice President Kamala Harris over comments she made at a news conference in Washington, DC.
In a Wednesday letter sent to Garland and shared with Washington ExaminerMills accused Harris of possibly violating the Hatch Act, which prohibits “the use of official resources to support partisan political campaigns,” because of her “vicious political attacks” on former President Donald Trump.
The Florida Republican took issue with a specific statement that Harris ended by saying, “We know what Donald Trump wants. He wants unchecked power. The question in 13 days will be what do the American people want?
Harris held a brief press conference from the vice president’s residence, mainly in response to reports from the Atlantic Ocean that Trump allegedly wanted to have generals “like Adolf Hitler,” among other details.
While the Hatch Act protects the president or vice president from violations of civil regulations, Mills said it does not apply to criminal regulations.
“It is a crime under federal law for any federal officer or employee to “use his official authority to interfere with or influence the nomination or election of any candidate for the office of President, Vice President, President-elect, Member of the Senate, Member of the House of Representatives,” the letter said.
“Recognizing this concern, and as Attorney General, you have issued a strict injunction against yours
political appointees from participating in campaign activities in any capacity,” Mills wrote to Garland. “As Attorney General, you are answerable to the President, but your oath is to the Constitution and the laws of the United States. I am asking you to investigate today’s unquestioned “press conference” as it appears to be a direct use of official power to influence the upcoming election. Given the closeness of the election, the American people deserve timely answers.
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Election Day is less than two weeks away. Neither Harris nor Trump has a decisive lead in the polls, and both have resorted to attacking each other and campaigning in states to gain an edge.
The Washington Examiner reached out to the Justice Department and the White House about Mills’ letter, but did not hear back.