It makes sense that people who work for a city government, like police officers, are prohibited from political activity on the job. So, when a handful of San Antonio police officers wore Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” caps, they received disciplinary action. Now, a man from Bulverde, Texas, was arrested on electioneering charges after wearing a Trump hat and “basket of deplorables” T-shirt to vote.
Cynthia Jaqua, election coordinator for Comal County, Texas, told KSAT that electioneering isn’t limited to people holding signs outside of a polling place, and that’s why the police arrested Brett Mauthe.
“It can mean a T-shirt, a button, a hat, you know?” Jaqua told KSAT. “Anything related to the voting, the party, the candidate.”
Mauthe told KSAT that he complied with officials when they asked him to remove his hat. But, when they told him he would need to turn his shirt inside out, he did not oblige, and he said he wasn’t aware that wearing that kind of apparel was against the rules.
Mauthe faces a class C misdemeanor.
So, for any promotional products professionals supplying campaign merchandise, make sure your clients keep them an appropriate distance from polling places.
