Commerce Department official Ethan Wolf is facing allegations of violating the Hatch Act by operating a viral X account, “Kamala’s Wins,” to promote Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign during work hours. A watchdog complaint filed by the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT) claims Wolf used taxpayer-funded time to post political content, which federal law strictly prohibits.
Wolf launched the account in 2022 as “Biden’s Wins,” later rebranding it to support Harris after President Joe Biden announced he would not seek reelection. Despite his role as a federal employee, the account remained active during government work hours, posting highly political content, including misinformation, according to the complaint.
FACT highlighted several posts from the account, including one on September 17 that promoted Billie Eilish’s endorsement of Harris, reaching nearly three million users during the workday. The watchdog group also pointed to fact-checked misinformation, such as a false claim in July that NFL quarterback Joe Burrow participated in a Harris fundraising event and an inaccurate post in August about J.D. Vance’s campaign rally attendance.
The Hatch Act prohibits federal employees from engaging in political activities during work hours or while in government buildings. FACT’s executive director, Kendra Arnold, stated, “This is a case where the Office of Special Counsel must investigate and determine whether Wolf’s involvement with these accounts violated the Hatch Act.”
Wolf has denied being the sole manager of the account since joining the Commerce Department but has not disclosed who else might be involved. Financial disclosures reveal Wolf earned $6,650 from his media company, Democratic Wins Media LLC, raising further questions about his activities.
The Biden administration has faced repeated allegations of Hatch Act violations, with White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and other senior officials previously found in violation. The complaint against Wolf underscores ongoing concerns about adherence to federal ethics laws within the administration.
The Office of Special Counsel is expected to review the allegations, potentially adding Wolf to the growing list of officials cited for violating the Hatch Act. Critics argue the case highlights the need for stricter oversight and enforcement of federal ethics rules.
