Campaign for Accountability Statement on Special Counsel Complaint Against HUD Administrator Lynne Patton
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 11, 2021
Contact: Michael Clauw, mclauw@campaignforaccountability.org, 202.780.5750
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Campaign for Accountability (CfA) released a statement in reaction to a newly obtained disciplinary complaint filed by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) against former Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Region II Administrator Lynne Patton for Hatch Act violations for abusing her official office and title for political purposes. OSC informed CfA that its complaint was a direct result of our complaint filed September 21.
In response, CfA Executive Director Michelle Kuppersmith issued the following statement:
“There should never be an expiration date on accountability, and we’re pleased that the Special Counsel agreed with us that Ms. Patton violated the Hatch Act when she manipulated NYC public housing residents into shilling for then-President Trump. Ms. Patton must be disciplined for this behavior to show a clear break from the consequence-free atmosphere during the previous administration, which undoubtably contributed to an overall degradation of norms. OSC’s request for action sends an important signal to the American people that appointed or elected officials can, should, and will be held accountable for their actions.”
The complaint, which CfA received through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, details how a pro-Trump video Ms. Patton produced solely to air during the 2020 Republican National Convention used department resources, and was only accomplished by misleading the New York City Housing Authority residents who appeared in the video about the purpose of the project. OSC transmitted the complaint to the Merit Systems Protection Board on January 11, 2021 and requested that it “find that Patton violated the Hatch Act and order appropriate disciplinary action…” OSC’s complaint stems from a CfA complaint filed September 21, 2020 with the OSC, HUD, and the Office of Government Ethics calling for an investigation and appropriate disciplinary actions following Ms. Patton’s clear violations.
Campaign for Accountability is a nonpartisan, nonprofit watchdog organization that uses research, litigation, and aggressive communications to expose misconduct and malfeasance in public life and hold those who act at the expense of the public good accountable for their actions.