The inquiries are only multiplying. The Office of Special Counsel has begun its own investigation into whether Iglesias’s dismissal was a violation of both the Hatch Act (which prohibits federal employees from being fired for “political” reasons) and a law that bars discrimination against military-service members, said an official, anonymous when talking about an internal matter. Justice officials have at times suggested one reason Iglesias was fired is that he spent too much time away from the office because he is in the naval reserves. The agency’s director, Scott Bloch, recently pledged “aggressive” enforcement of the law, which is increasingly important given the growing number of National Guard and military reserves called up for service in Iraq.
