New York sheriff warned he broke the law flying pro-Trump flag on boat
Oswego County officials and Office of Special Counsel deliver warning but take no action following Hatch Act breach
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Your support makes all the difference.A New York sheriff has been warned that he broke federal law by flying a pro-Trump flag from a a police boat last summer.
The flag flying incident took place as Donald Hilton, an Oswego County sheriff, patrolled hundreds of other boats taking part in a flotilla parade for the former US president on Oneida Lake last August.
Onboard the police boat, the sheriff was found to have flown a “Making America Great Again”, and was pictured doing so by a local news outlet, the Post-Standard.
His actions were referred to the US Office of Special Counsel (OSC) for investigation, according to the Washington Post.
The office told Mr Hilton in a letter sent on Thursday last week that he had been in violation of an anti-corruption law for federal officials known as the Hatch Act.
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It is supposed to stop federal employees from promoting political candidates.
Mr Hilton was told that by flying the pro-Trump flag on-board an on-duty boat, he gave “the impression that the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office endorsed that candidate”.
“OSC determined that you violated the Hatch Act’s prohibition against using your official authority to affect an election,” the special counsel’s office told Mr Hilton.
OSC officials said no further action would be taken against Mr Hilton, but provided him with a warning for future political events.
According to the Post, the Oswego County legislature chairman, Jim Weatherup, said Mr Hilton reassured him that “it will not occur again,” and would also take no further action.
It follows concerns surrounding the number of current and former members of law enforcement who were arrested in the wake of the Capitol riot on 6 January, which was carried out in support of Donald Trump.
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