Lee sheriff under federal investigation for stumping in uniform
  • BONITA SPRINGS — Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott’s now infamous appearance at Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s public rally has caught the attention of federal officials. Scott is under federal investigation for wearing his uniform during the campaign stump, a spokesman for the Office of Special Counsel said on Tuesday.

    Anthony Guglielmi, spokesman for the OSC, said, “We are launching a formal investigation into Sheriff Scott today on the basis of possible violation of Hatch Act.”

    The Hatch Act of 1939 regulates how certain government employees use their official authority in their private lives. Guglielmi said the Sheriff’s Office would fall under the law’s provision if it receives federal funding, a near certainty.

    Scott potentially used his “official authority” to influence the outcome of an election, Guglielmi said. He could also face penalties for wearing his uniform or even driving his cruiser to the event.

    Scott on Tuesday said he hadn’t received official notice of the investigation, but if true, he expects to be exonerated.


This is harassment from Obama pure and simple.

I have a fair amount of experience reviewing Hatch Act cases. The Hatch Act in this circumstance exempts elected officials and only applies to appointed officers. The reason is obvious: if people who's offices received federal funding were prohibited from trying to influence elections no one could run for their own office or endorse other candidates, including the President and Congress.

Sheriffs are elected. Therefore, the investigation will go nowhere.

The only possible reason for this investigation is to threaten and intimidate people who criticize "the One."