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Trump Puts Aides on Tightrope With White House Acceptance Speech

  • All employees are subject to Hatch Act except Trump and Pence
  • Law prohibits campaigning on duty or on government property
 President Donald Trump 

 President Donald Trump 

Photographer: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

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President Donald Trump’s idea to give his nomination acceptance speech from the South Lawn of the White House may be legal -- for him. But it lays out a minefield of problems for the staff charged with putting such an event together.

Legal experts said White House staff would violate the federal Hatch Act by planning or participating in such an event. The Hatch Act bars U.S. government employees from conducting any political activities during work hours, while in a government building or while wearing a government uniform.