Ron Wyden Files Hatch Act Complaint Against Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Senator Ron Wyden, the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, filed a complaint with the U.S. Office of the Special Counsel on July 14, 2026, alleging that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. violated the Hatch Act. Wyden claims that in June 2026, Kennedy used his official position to pressure Libertarian candidates Marco Battaglia and Rick Stewart to withdraw from competitive congressional races in Iowa's 2nd and 3rd districts to prevent them from acting as spoilers for Republican candidates.

A recording of a call with Stewart, captured by Stephanie Berlin of the Libertarian Party of Iowa, shows Kennedy offering to serve as a "liaison with the White House" and an "advocate" for Stewart. Wyden characterizes this offer as an illegal quid pro quo involving federal employment. While Donald Sherman of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington described the actions as a "clear violation" of the law, Stewart suggested Kennedy attempted to remain on the correct side of legal rules.

Both Kennedy and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Some legal observers have expressed doubt that the Office of the Special Counsel will pursue the matter, citing President Donald Trump's increased control over independent federal agencies.