Comments
UNLAWFUL PARTISAN VIDEO - Breaking the law has seemingly become an ugly pastime of the Trump Administration. Being repudiated by his own appointee to a federal court bench last month for ordering troops to invade U.S. cities with delusional arguments that are “untethered to the facts” is a warning sign for every American about the dangerous deeds by all this President’s men.
And women. Kristi Noem, the former South Dakota governor notorious for the depraved killing of her own dog Cricket, is supposed to follow and enforce the law as Trump’s designee as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Now Noem herself is in the center of an unflattering spotlight over apparent violations of federal law. Last month she produced with federal government resources — our tax dollars — a partisan attack ad that blames Democrats only for the shutdown of the federal government and disruption of some of its most essential services, including air-traffic control. Never mind the fact that Republicans control all three branches of the federal government.
By releasing the partisan video message and ordering hundreds of airports throughout the U.S. to run it on video monitors near screening points for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), or else, Noem is paying no heed to federal law.
The federal Hatch Act, which dates to 1939, forbids use of government resources for partisan political activity, including producing and distributing attack ads like Noem’s. It is also a bedrock of federal law that no entity of government, including executive agencies, can use their authority to coerce local entities that refuse to engage in illegal conduct into breaking the law or to punish them for acting lawfully and ethically.
That’s where this sordid situation comes in for a dangerous landing locally. At the Hollywood Burbank Airport, the ongoing federal government shutdown, which began on Oct. 1, has already prompted at least one crisis of no available staff in the control tower and cutoff of flights at the airport.
Airports throughout the U.S. have rejected Noem’s partisan attack ad as a violation of federal law and their own agency standards. These include LAX and all other airports in the top ten most heavily traveled. Legal observers cite the terms of the Hatch Act in denouncing Noem’s ad and efforts to compel it to be run.
Members and leaders of East Area Progressive Democrats (EAPD) have observed firsthand the Noem partisan attack ad running on video monitors in the terminal of the Hollywood Burbank Airport.
On Monday, November 3, EAPD wrote to members of the 9-member Airport Authority that oversees the Burbank airport, a government facility, and its operations to urge them to pull the plug on the Noem attack ad, which has been running on loop on dozens of video screens there for more than two weeks.
“Any attempt by any Presidential Administration or by any federal government official to use government resources to attempt to score partisan political points over the anxiety, inconvenience, and jeopardy to the safety of the flying public is not only unlawful,” states the EAPD letter. “It is reckless, wrong, and unconscionable.
“To worsen this unlawful conduct by coercing local government to enable, perpetuate, and normalize it by using the threat, explicit or implied, of adverse consequences or retaliation for not acquiescing is repugnant and illegal. It aggravates the law-breaking.”
EAPD warns the 9-member Airport Authority, “We count on you as a steward of the airport not to be complicit in such lawlessness and to stand up for the rule of law, the integrity of your agency, and the trust of stakeholders. To do any less invites further destruction of safeguards, abuse of power, and violation of the law.”
This incident is a test by the Trump Administration of the complicity and corruptibility of local governments. What’s next? Official ads promoting sales of Trump crypto coins?
This flight plan is incomplete. Angelenos with a strong social conscience can play a role in setting an ethical course to stop the ad in our local airport.
To make your voice heard with the Airport Authority to end this dangerous episode of law-breaking, please send a brief email to [email protected] The club will help put you in touch with this government body that works for the people and is sworn to serve the public interest.
(Hans Johnson is a longtime advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, environmental justice, and public education. His columns have appeared in USA Today and leading newspapers across more than 20 states. Based in Eagle Rock, he serves as president of East Area Progressive Democrats (EAPD), California’s largest grassroots Democratic club with over 1,100 members. Hans brings decades of organizing and policy experience to his work, advancing equity and accountability in local and national politics.)
