Council member faces Hatch Act query

Updated 9:59 p.m.
Alexandria City Council member Alicia Hughes is facing allegations of having violated the Hatch Act, a law that limits political activity by federal employees.

The Alexandria Times reports that an attorney with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel contacted the local newspaper's offices earlier this week for information on Hughes, who is a federal patent examiner. The special counsel's office said it will not confirm or deny the inquiry.

The Hatch Act, for example, prohibits federal workers from using their federal position to influence elections and from being candidates in partisan elections. There are exceptions for employees who run for office as an independent.

Hughes said in a statement that she was made aware of the inquiry, but has been unable to confirm it. She said any citizen can file a complaint "whether frivolous or non-frivolous."

For more on this story, go to the Virginia Politics blog.