US Special Counsel to investigate Trump campaign's use of White House as campaign 'war room'

US Special Counsel to investigate Trump campaign's use of White House as campaign 'war room'

Show Caption Hide Caption Biden moves ahead of Trump in Georgia Democrat Joe Biden took a 917 vote lead over President Donald Trump in the battleground state of Georgia early Friday morning. The contest is still too early for The Associated Press to call and thousands of ballots are left to be counted. (Nov. 6)

WOODLAND PARK, N.J. – The United States Special Counsel is investigating the use of the White House as a campaign "war room" by President Trump's reelection campaign, according to Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.), who made the initial push for an investigation.

On Tuesday, Pascrell wrote a letter to the Special Counsel demanding a federal probe of the Trump campaign's use of the White House after reports of the president's campaign operating out of the Eisenhower Executive Office. That would violate the Hatch Act, which limits political activities of federal employees, Pascrell said.

Pascrell tweeted Thursday night that the Special Counsel is "investigating the Trump campaign’s use of the White House as an Election Day campaign command center." The Hatch Act excludes the president and vice president.

UPDATE The Special Counsel’s Office informed me today they’re investigating the trump campaign’s use of the White House as an Election Day campaign command center and party room for violating the Hatch Act. https://t.co/8sqFjD7zPg — Bill Pascrell, Jr. (@BillPascrell) November 5, 2020

According to a statement by Pascrell, the Trump campaign officials claimed that all equipment — even the WiFi being used — was paid for by the campaign with no involvement from White House officials. Pascrell questioned how the campaign was able to install such equipment in the White House and whether an official was consulted to consider national security risks.

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Pascrell, a Democrat, has represented Paterson and surrounding towns in Congress for 23 years and has been one of the staunchest anti-Trump voices for the Democratic Party, previously calling the Trump "the most corrupt President in our history."

Pascrell now awaits an explanation from the Special Counsel into whether the Trump campaign's actions were indeed violations of the Hatch Act and who exactly was consulted, if anyone, on the ability for the campaign to use the executive office.

Pascrell appears to be heading back to D.C. for a 13th term, with preliminary election results from Tuesday showing him with a wide lead over his challenger, Bill Prempeh.

Follow NorthJersey.com reporter Anthony Zurita on Twitter: @AnthonyRZurita