Overview
A Twitter account initially supporting President Biden has shifted focus to Vice President Kamala Harris, raising concerns about political activity and federal law compliance. The account, founded by a former Biden campaign staffer, has been accused of spreading misinformation and violating ethics laws, sparking scrutiny of its ties to the Biden-Harris administration.
Why It Matters
This issue sheds light on potential conflicts between political influence operations and federal regulations designed to protect government integrity.
Who It Impacts
This impacts all American voters as it raises concerns about how political influence operations may affect the democratic process and public trust in government officials.
In a move that has drawn attention from both political observers and federal regulators, a prominent Twitter account that once championed President Joe Biden has now rebranded itself as a support hub for Vice President Kamala Harris. Known as “Kamala’s Wins,” the account has become one of the largest online communities promoting Harris, boasting over 765,000 followers. Despite the account’s new focus, questions have arisen about its ties to the Biden-Harris administration and whether its founder, Ethan Wolf, is violating federal law by managing the account while employed by the federal government.
I am once again asking you to stand with President Biden and me. Retweet and vote in the poll below. https://t.co/1aJHPNLnNP pic.twitter.com/ztbOvXrNUe
— Ethan Wolf ???????? (@ethanmwolf) March 28, 2024
Ethan Wolf, a 2022 college graduate, first launched the “Biden’s Wins” account in January of that year while working as a deputy political director for Democratic Congressman Brad Schneider’s reelection campaign. His account quickly garnered a significant following and even caught the attention of White House staffers, including Biden’s former Chief of Staff, Ron Klain. Wolf’s rapid rise within Democratic circles led to several invitations to White House briefings and culminated in his employment as a communications specialist for the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. According to official disclosure forms, he earns $94,000 a year in this role.
Happy birthday, @POTUS. Thanks for all your doing for our great nation. Special thank you for giving young leaders a seat at your table. pic.twitter.com/7zaRSFzBm5
— Ethan Wolf ???????? (@ethanmwolf) November 20, 2023
The connection between Wolf’s account and the administration has raised ethical concerns, particularly regarding the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in political activity during work hours or within federal facilities. A spokesman for the Commerce Department emphasized that all employees are subject to the Hatch Act but did not address the specifics of Wolf’s activities. Wolf has reportedly shared political content from his personal social media accounts during work hours, further complicating the issue.
The administration has a track record of Hatch Act violations, with senior officials such as Ron Klain, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, and White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre having been reprimanded in the past. Wolf’s continued activity in political circles, despite his federal employment, has led many to question whether the Biden-Harris administration is sufficiently enforcing ethics laws within its ranks.
Complicating matters is Wolf’s broader social media strategy. Shortly after launching the Biden’s Wins account, Wolf created a business venture, Democratic Wins Media LLC, which appears to coordinate the activity of several related social media accounts, including ones supporting Pete Buttigieg and Hillary Clinton. Campaign payments to Wolf’s company from Democratic candidates raise questions about whether these social media accounts are part of a larger political strategy aimed at shaping public opinion ahead of key elections.
Beyond potential Hatch Act violations, the Kamala’s Wins account has also been scrutinized for spreading false information. Notably, the account promoted a widely debunked claim about a “White Dudes for Harris” fundraising call involving NFL quarterbacks and has been accused of manipulating facts to present Harris and the Biden administration’s policies in an overly favorable light. These inaccuracies have led to fact-checking and criticism from various media outlets, further tarnishing the account’s credibility.
As Wolf continues to serve in the Commerce Department, his activities raise significant concerns about the intersection of political influence and government ethics. The involvement of a federal employee in running a politically charged social media account during work hours suggests a troubling lack of oversight within the administration, a pattern that some critics argue reflects a broader disregard for the ethical standards designed to protect the integrity of federal institutions. While supporters of the administration may view the account’s activities as benign or even beneficial, the implications for public trust and adherence to the law remain serious concerns.
Ultimately, this issue illustrates the dangers of blurred lines between political advocacy and federal employment. When individuals with government jobs are also involved in shaping political narratives, it risks undermining the transparency and accountability that are essential to maintaining the trust of American citizens.
