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Brian Johnson, Medill School

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    Balance of Power

    Claim: Pompeo’s convention speech violated federal law. Fact check: True

    Brian Johnson, Medill School
    August 28, 2020
    Claim: Pompeo’s convention speech violated federal law. Fact check: True

    Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's full speech at the Republican National Convention

    Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speech's on Tuesday at the Republican National Convention was unprecedented. No prior sitting secretary of state had given a speech at a party convention. Diplomats and federal employees have typically stayed away from partisan activity and there are rules in place that prevent federal employees from being involved in partisan politics. The Hatch Act, passed in 1939, prohibits all federal employees — except the president and vice president — from engaging in various partisan political activities. For example, the law states that federal employees cannot "use their official authority or influence to interfere with or affect the result of an election." Pompeo did not refer to himself as secretary of state in the video, but he did record the video during an official visit to Israel.

    Since Pompeo is part of the National Security Council, he is subject to further restrictions. Such federal employees who have more restrictions cannot "take an active part in partisan political campaigns, by, for example: Campaigning for or against a candidate or slate of candidates. Making campaign speeches or engaging in other campaign activities to elect partisan candidates." Pompeo violated both of these restrictions.

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    balance of power

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    Voting

    Claim: Universal mail-in voting has led to widespread voter fraud. Fact check: False

    Brian Johnson, Medill School
    August 27, 2020
    President Donald Trump
    Brian Blanco/Getty Images
    For our Country to be sending 80 million UNSOLICITED BALLOTS is very unfair and a roadmap to disaster. Even recent… https://t.co/MpUNdOGfud
    — Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1598363396.0

    Nine states and Washington, D.C., will mail ballots directly to voters (what is known as universal mail-in voting), accounting for 44 million voters — half of President Trump's claim. Several states, including Colorado, Nevada and Washington have conducted primary elections in which ballots were mailed to all eligible voters. In Nevada some ballots were rejected largely because they were not properly filled out, but there were no reports of widespread voter fraud in those states

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    vote by mail
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