Lee.org

TLDR: federal employees aren’t allowed to play partisan politics. Many federal websites are now showing partisan messages saying that the Democrats closed the government, when in fact it is a disagreement between the two major political parties that has stalled a budget bill.

The Department of Justice website that explains the Hatch Act is violating the Hatch Act. Read from the first paragraph of that very website:

All Department of Justice employees are subject to the Hatch Act, 5 U.S.C. 7323(a) and 7324(a), which generally prohibits Department employees from engaging in partisan political activity while on duty, in a federal facility or using federal property. Political activity is activity directed toward the success or failure of a political party, candidate for partisan political office, or partisan political group. The statute carries serious penalties including REMOVAL from federal employment.

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If you can’t see it, the very top of the page reads, “Democrats have shut down the government. Department of Justice websites are not currently regularly updated. Please refer to the Department of Justice’s contingency plan for more information.” And to be clear, “Democrats” haven’t shut down the government, a disagreement between the two major parties has done so.

Additionally, they went out of their way to make sure that Archive.org would not save a copy of the illegal website. Under the law, that isn’t “conspiracy” but yes, they are conspiring to cover their tracks.

October 1st snapshot from archive.org

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October 3rd snapshot from archive.org

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