“Former DOJ Lawyer Anne Donohue’s School Board Run Stirs Controversy Amid Accusations of Partisanship”
In a startling turn of events, former senior counsel at the Department of Justice (DOJ) Anne Donohue has declared herself officially as a Democrat in the race for a seat on the highly politicized Loudoun County school board. Given the generally apolitical nature of their jobs, this decision has sparked criticism and accusations of partisanship among federal employees.
Donohue publicly promoted a political rally on October 13 with the following powerful message: “Are you sick and weary of the radicals who call themselves ‘Parents’ Rights’ targeting our children and public education? It’s not just you. Moms in Virginia have had enough. Since then, her campaign has made a strong statement opposing those they refer to as “Parents’ Rights extremists.”
It has astonished many that Donohue has openly engaged in politics in an era when federal employees are often prohibited from doing so in order to preserve their reputation and comply with the Hatch Act. The Democratic Party of Virginia is providing financial support to her campaign in addition to her active participation in Democratic Party events.
Practical politics are important even in nonpartisan school board elections in Virginia, where party affiliations are not shown on the ballot. Voters are provided official party slates at polling places, which prominently display party affiliations.
Due to the partisan involvement of a current DOJ officer, concerns have been raised over possible violations of the Hatch Act, a federal regulation that limits the political activity of employees. Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) former chief legal officer Stephen DeVita voiced his worries on social media, posing the question, “How is this not a violation of the Hatch Act?”
The Office of Special Counsel (OSC), which oversees the implementation of the Hatch Act, made it clear in 2021 that public servants are only eligible to participate in nonpartisan elections if they are truly nonpartisan, as opposed to just nominally so. According to OSC standards, evidence of partisan activity could refute the presumption of nonpartisanship.
Given the gravity of these claims, the Loudoun County GOP has demanded that Donohue’s campaign be looked into. They contend that she has flagrantly broken federal law by accepting the support of a political party, giving money to that party during campaigns, and regularly appearing at events alongside Democratic officials.
In addition to not answering questions concerning her support by the Democratic Party and possible violations of the Hatch Act, Donohue has not answered questions about her run for the Loudoun County school board or how it might affect their objectivity.
This development follows DOJ measures against parents at school board meetings in October 2021, spearheaded by Attorney General Merrick Garland. The actions were prompted by a letter from the National School Boards Association mentioning problems in Loudoun County. The DOJ has not withdrawn its memo in spite of the school board association’s later regrets and acknowledgements of improper behavior. The issue surrounding Anne Donohue’s candidacy has complicated the ongoing discussion over the role of federal employees in high-stakes political environments.