The Steady State Files Hatch Act Complaint Against Then-Deputy Attorney General Blanche Over CPAC Appearance

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 15, 2026

PDF AVAILABLE HERE

Washington, D.C. — The Steady State, an organization of more than 430 former national security officials, yesterday asked the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) to investigate whether Todd Blanche, then the Deputy Attorney General of the United States, violated the Hatch Act when he appeared under his official title at the Conservative Political Action Conference on March 26, 2026.

The Hatch Act keeps the powers of government office out of partisan politics. Officials in Mr. Blanche’s position may take part in politics in a personal capacity. They may not use the authority or title of the office to affect an election’s result. Using an official title while engaging in political activity is one instance of that prohibition.

The complaint asks OSC to determine whether Mr. Blanche did exactly that. CPAC announced him under his official title. He told the audience “we re-elected the president,” referred to what would follow “if we don’t win,” and told them “you all have to continue to do your part too.” On voting, he asked why there was “objection to sending ICE officers to polling places,” then invoked the Department’s own enforcement record. Allowing that the subject was not necessarily completely his purview, he described charging and indicting “illegals who voted,” said the Department had charged 20 times more than was charged under Biden in one year, and promised to “keep on doing that.” The Department’s own announcements state no such total and no comparison to any prior administration; the complaint asks OSC to determine the figure’s basis, which bears on whether he was describing its work or making a partisan point.

The Act also restricts political activity on duty, in federal buildings and in uniform, excepting officials in his position only if the costs are not paid from the Treasury. That exception does not reach the prohibition on using official authority to affect an election. The complaint asks who arranged and authorized the appearance, whether any Department component helped staff or publicize it, whether any nonexcluded cost was borne by the Treasury, and that those records be preserved.

The complaint does not allege that Mr. Blanche named a candidate, identified the 2026 midterms, or solicited contributions; it asks the Office to evaluate the setting and the sequence of statements.

A separate Steady State complaint concerning Mr. Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel, submitted September 4, 2026, concerns different conduct.

The complaint, as filed, is available HERE. Enclosures available on request.

About The Steady State

The Steady State is an organization of more than 430 former national security, intelligence, diplomatic, military, law enforcement, and homeland security officials who served across administrations of both parties.

Media Contact: [email protected] | (212) 685-9660