A government watchdog group has called for a federal investigation into the Democratic National Committee for “knowingly hiring” an illegal immigrant to assist with its political messaging to minorities during the 2016 election cycle.
The conservative non-profit Judicial Watch recently filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission, demanding that it explore the DNC’s employment of Cindy Nava, a 26-year-old Mexican woman who currently resides in the U.S. illegally.
Nava’s position at the DNC was first reported by the Washington Post in June. At the time, DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said she was “extremely proud to have Cindy on [her] team at the DNC.”
“Her story is an inspiration for all of us about what immigrant youth can achieve despite their undocumented status,” Wasserman Schultz told the Post.
Nava has reportedly submitted an application for legal status under the Deferred Action Childhood Arrival (DACA) program enacted by President Obama in 2012, but is still pending approval. DACA grants temporary reprieve to individuals brought to the U.S. illegally as children who have met certain educational requirements and have no history of criminal convictions.
In a letter sent to the FEC Aug. 25, Judicial Watch said Nava’s employment breaches a federal statute prohibiting foreign nationals from “directly or indirectly participating in the decision-making process of any person, such as a … political committee … with regard to such person’s Federal or non-Federal election-related activities.”
“On its face, the DNC’s decision to hire Ms. Nava is in direct violation of this provision,” wrote Judicial Watch President Thomas Fitton. “The FEC should investigate this matter further to determine the full extent of Ms. Nava’s responsibilities, her relationship to the policy making team, and her effect on the 2016 DNC election strategy.”
The watchdog group claims that Nava was likely hired by the DNC as a Mame Reiley Fellow, a fellowship awarded to “hardworking, passionate future women leaders,” and is “helping the DNC craft its political message and communications to women, Hispanics, and others [which] is being communicated to these people and groups in order to achieve political success in the 2016, Presidential, Congressional, Gubernatorial, and local elections.”
Judicial Watch also noted that Nava could be helping the Committee, and its “associated organizations,” sculpt a public policy agenda for use by various Democratic candidates.
“The DNC has actively and willingly promoted its act of lawlessness,” Fitton wrote, adding that the DNC’s message to the Post and Spanish-language paper El Nuevo Herald “at minimum, presents Ms. Nava as a policy advisor for the DNC who possess the requisite knowledge to assist politicians, political organizations, and PACs in their election activities.”
An FEC spokeswoman confirmed to the Washington Examiner that the complaint had been received, but declined to comment on whether the agency intends to launch a formal investigation.
Fitton believes the FEC will investigate the matter, but questions whether Democrats on the Commission will “abide by the law.” The Commission is made up of six members, no more than three of which are permitted to belong to the same political party.
“This is really in violation of the law and if the Commission allows that to go without punishment, then you might as well shut the FEC down,” Fitton told the Examiner.
The former radio host says that while the DNC’s decision to hire an illegal immigrant reflects the Obama Administration’s “blind eye” to immigration laws, the issue demonstrates “just how crazed” the entire political establishment is when it comes to immigration.
“Do I think the Republican Party is as oblivious enough to do this type of thing? Absolutely,” Fitton said.
He added that this behavior “will encourage other violations of laws and place the integrity of elections at risk if it is allowed to go unpunished.”
If the DNC is determined to be at fault, Fitton says the FEC will likely require a correction, meaning they will be forced to let Nava go, and possibly slap the Committee with a hefty fine.
Fitton believes the DNC sees its employment of Nava as a “political plus,” but he wonders how valuable hiring an illegal immigrant is when it puts an organization at risk of incurring a fine or worse.
“Aren’t there any Hispanic Americans that can do this work legally?” he said.
