Michael Horowitz, inspector general of the Department of Justice (DOJ), opened an investigation against Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins for violating federal ethics laws that prohibit government employees from engaging in political activism and accepting payments from outside groups, The Associated Press reported.
Rollins, backed by George Soros, is also known for refusing to prosecute crimes such as drug trafficking and theft. She also worked closely with a group that lobbies to defund the police.
Violation of ethics laws
Rollins is accused of violating the Hatch Act, which prevents government employees from engaging in political activism. The prosecutor attended a Democratic National Committee event featuring First Lady Jill Biden in a Boston suburb last summer. The Boston Herald asked Rollins in an interview whether her assistance violated the Hatch Act, and she responded with a resounding no. However, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., called in July for an investigation regarding Rollins' "flagrant violation" of ethics laws.
Rollins also reportedly received payments from Creative Artists Agency, a Hollywood talent agency, which gave Rollins a substantial sum of money to attend and give a speech at its annual meeting in California.
The use of her personal cell phone to discuss official business is also being investigated, raising national security concerns.
"Cooperating with the investigation"
A spokeswoman for Rollins confirmed that her office is "fully cooperating with the [inspector general's] investigation."
The Massachusetts attorney general had already opened an investigation into Rollins after she stopped in the middle of the street and threatened to issue a traffic ticket to a motorist who, according to her, cut into traffic in the area.
When asked by a reporter about the incident, the prosecutor threatened to call the police: "I'll call the police on you and make an allegation and we'll see how that works with you." Despite these actions, the attorney general's office and the state ethics commission later cleared her of wrongdoing.
