What do you base your political decisions on?

[lizbud]

Liz, if they prosecuted a retired military person for breaking the law by violating the Hatch act, it would be a slam dunk case, as the person is not separated from the military. They are still on the rolls, and still subject to the UCMJ, where applicable. We all carry little blue ID cards, and are subject to recall if the country sees fit to do so.

Can you cite one case where this has happened? Give me one instance
(besides treason) where a case has been successfully prosecuted.

[RICHARD]

I really want to U.S. government/AFs to chase around people with typewriters and email.

Then people will sue and the whole case gets out of hand.


As a matter of fact, I think more people should use e-mail, It keeps sharp, pointy things out of their hands and everyone is safer.

[Lady's Human]

Liz,


Hatch act and article 88 prosecutions on military members are rare, normally for an active servicemember it's a verbal removal of several pounds of flesh from a sensitive area (been there, done that, got the T-shirt, which is why I'm so familiar with this), normally the max is a letter of reprimand placed in the official file (A career-ending penalty for an active or reserve soldier).

For retired servicemembers, I've seen bans on communications through Army e-mail(which retired servicemembers are eligible to use), bans from using army discussion boards, and stern warnings from superiors, but never anything beyond that.

To enforce the provisions of article 88 the servicemember would have to be returned to active duty for prosecution, which would be costly, as it is a military crime, not a civilian crime.

Hatch act prosecutions for civilian government employees, however, are fairly common, with the penalties normally being a ban from using official communications means to monetary fines, in extreme cases there have been dismissals.

[lizbud]

So, the answer is no. I know many government officials have been
charged & prosecuted under the Hatch Act, but no retired military people.