Lynne Patton

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Lynne Patton
Administrator of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for Region II
In office
July 5, 2017 – January 2021
PresidentDonald Trump
Personal details
Born
Lynne Martine Patton

1973 (age 50–51)
Alabama, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationUniversity of Miami (BA)
Quinnipiac University

Lynne Martine Patton (born 1973)[1] is an American event planner and former Trump administration political appointee.[2]

She was designated in June 2017 by President Donald Trump to head Region II of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which oversees New York and New Jersey,[3] and remained in the role until Trump left office in January 2021.[4][2] She was twice found to have violated the Hatch Act, a federal law restricting the political activities of federal executive-branch employees, and in 2021 was fined and barred from government service for four years.[2]

Before she was appointed to HUD, Patton worked as an event planner for the Trump family, including planning the wedding of Eric Trump,[5] and helping to run the Eric Trump Foundation.[5][6] She was a speaker at the 2016 Republican National Convention.[7]

Early life and education[edit]

Patton grew up in New Haven, Connecticut, in the Westville neighborhood.[8] Her father, epidemiologist Curtis L. Patton, was a professor (and is now professor emeritus) at Yale University.[9]

Patton graduated from the University of Miami with a B.A. in English literature.[10] She attended the Quinnipiac University School of Law for two semesters, and did not graduate.[11][12] On her LinkedIn page, Patton previously claimed an affiliation with Yale University, which she had never attended.[13][14]

Career[edit]

Work for Trump family and Trump campaign[edit]

Patton planned the wedding of Eric Trump.[5] She was a longtime personal assistant for Eric Trump,[15] as well as others in the Trump family and The Trump Organization.[16] An Eric Trump Foundation staff biography of Patton states that she was involved in casting the 2012 and 2014 seasons of The Celebrity Apprentice.[10][17]

Patton was one of 16 unpaid directors at the Eric Trump Foundation, though her position did not appear in the Foundation's 2014 tax filings.[15] Her HUD financial disclosures stated that she had been a vice president and a board member at the Eric Trump Foundation from January 2009 to January 2017, and she speaks of being with the Trump family since 2009.[18][19][20]

In May 2016, during Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, Patton narrated a video in which she defended Trump against allegations of racism; the video garnered millions of views on YouTube.[8] Although Patton described herself in a Trump campaign video as an executive at the Trump Organization, she was in fact a personal assistant; after the Associated Press inquired about her role, the Eric Trump Foundation website and Patton's LinkedIn profile changed to describe her as "vice president of the Eric Trump Foundation."[15] She spoke at the 2016 Republican National Convention; the convention program listed her position as "Vice President of The Eric Trump Foundation and Senior Assistant to Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump, and Donald Trump Jr."[21] In her convention speech, she acknowledged historical racism, but said that "Donald Trump knows that your life matters. He knows that my life matters. He knows the LGBTQ lives matter. He knows that veterans lives matter. And he knows that blue lives matter."[22] Later in the campaign, Patton joined other campaign spokeswomen on the Trump-Pence Women's Empowerment Tour.[23]

She was a director of National Diversity Coalition for Trump.[24]

Trump administration[edit]

In January 2017, Patton was appointed a White House liaison and Director of Public Liaison for the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.[25][26][12][27] Since the Trump Organization co-owns some properties that receive federal rental subsidies from HUD, her position raised questions of conflict of interest.[28]

From July 5, 2017, to January 2021, Patton was head of HUD Region II, covering New York and New Jersey.[3][29][4] She had no experience with housing policy.[5][12] U.S. Representatives Grace Meng and Nydia Velázquez, both Democrats from New York, urged the administration to reconsider the appointment.[30][31]

In January 2018, Patton apologized after calling April Ryan, the White House correspondent and Washington bureau chief for American Urban Radio Networks, "Miss Piggy".[32]

In September 2018, Patton commented positively with two emojis on an Instagram post by Donald Trump Jr., the president's son, mocking the sexual assault allegation against Trump's Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. That same month, Patton made misleading posts on social media suggesting that CNN "is #FakeNews."[33]

Patton's tenure at HUD was marked by publicity stunts.[34][2] In November 2018, Patton claimed that she would be moving from her New York apartment in Trump Plaza to New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) public housing, saying, "It was not okay for me to preside over the largest housing crisis in the nation from the warmth and comfort of my own safe and sanitary apartment while NYCHA residents continue to suffer the most inhumane conditions."[34] Patton blamed the housing authority for ineptitude and indifference to the conditions "suffered by hard working residents."[34] She began an announced month-long stay in NYCHA housing on February 11, 2019.[35]

Patton also made a "surprise cameo" at a hearing of Michael Cohen, a former Trump attorney.[2] At the February 2019 House Oversight Committee hearing, Republican congressman Mark Meadows presented Patton at the hearing, to rebut Cohen's assertion that Trump is a "racist." This prompted a sharp exchange later between Meadows and Rep. Rashida Tlaib, who asserted, "The fact that someone would actually use a prop, a black woman, in this chamber in this committee is alone racist in itself."[36][37][38] After being pressed by Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings (D-MD) on what she meant, Tlaib clarified her remarks and apologized to Meadows.[39] Patton also asked about the possibility of starring in a reality television program; and used the Trump family name in an unsuccessful attempt to have a HUD employee fired.[2]

In August 2019, she responded to the suicide of accused underage sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein with an Instagram post that promoted unfounded conspiracy theories about Vince Foster's 1993 suicide; Patton suggested that both men had been killed by Hillary Clinton.[40]

Hatch Act violations[edit]

From December 2017 and April 2018, Patton used her government Twitter account to "like" partisan tweets; in 2019, the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) determined that these actions violated the Hatch Act, which prohibits employees of the federal executive branch from engaging in certain political activities.[2] In May 2019, when asked about potential Hatch Act violations, Patton said "I honestly don't care."[41][42] The OSC issued Patton a warning letter in September 2019 for two violations of the Hatch Act; the office issued her a reprimand, but decided not to pursue disciplinary action. The OSC cleared Patton of two other alleged violations.[43][44]

In 2020, Patton tricked four New Yorkers into appearing in a video that was broadcast during the final night of the 2020 Republican National Convention.[45][16] Patton unexpectedly called the leader of a NYCHA tenants' association, telling them that she was interested in speaking with tenants about poor public housing conditions, and personally interviewed four tenants for four hours.[45] The tenants' comments were edited down to a two-minute video clip that was played at the Republican convention; the video attacked New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio[45] and suggested that the tenants were Trump supporters.[16] The tenants, who were never told the true purpose of the interviews, were angered; one of the tenants said she was not a Trump supporter and disapproved "of his racist policies on immigration."[45] Patton denied deceiving the residents.[2] Several watchdog groups, including the Campaign for Accountability and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, filed complaints with OSC over the video.[45][2] In April 2021, Patton reached a settlement with OSC over violations of the Hatch Act in regard to the incident. She admitted to violating the Hatch Act, agreed to pay a $1,000 fine, and accepted a four-year (48-month) ban from federal employment.[2][4] The OSC issued a statement saying, "By using information and NYCHA connections available to her solely by virtue of her HUD position, Patton improperly harnessed the authority of her federal position to assist the Trump campaign in violation of the Hatch Act."[2]

After the complaint with Patton was filed, the Project On Government Oversight wrote a letter expressing concerns of bias, given that Patton, a Black woman, was the only Trump administration appointee against whom OSC filed a Hatch Act complaint.[46]

Personal life[edit]

Patton says she has struggled with substance abuse and addiction, and publicly praised the Trump family for standing by her through tough times.[14]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Lynne Patton (1973- )". BlackPast.org. BlackPast. July 23, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Jan, Tracy (April 6, 2021). "Trump HUD official disciplined for violating federal law". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Sherman, Jake; Palmer, Anna; Lippman, Daniel (June 16, 2017). "N.Y. DAILY NEWS: Trump's new NY HUD director planned Eric Trump's wedding, has no housing experience -- DEMS drub GOP at baseball game -- A RECORD 24,959 tickets sold -- PENCE hires McGuireWoods' Cullen -- B'DAY: Bres". Playbook. Politico. Archived from the original on June 16, 2017.
  4. ^ a b c Bowden, John (April 6, 2021). "Ex-Trump official penalized for violating Hatch Act". The Hill. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d Scott, Dylan (June 16, 2017). "Report: Trump wants his son's wedding planner to oversee federal housing programs". Vox Media.
  6. ^ Noble, Jason (September 21, 2016). "Some donations to Trump Foundation count as Trump's money, aide says". Des Moines Register. p. A8. Lynne Patton, a senior assistant to three of Trump's adult children and the vice president of son Eric Trump's charitable foundation, told The Des Moines Register that some donations to the Donald J. Trump Foundation should be recognized as contributions from Trump himself because in some cases that money would have been paid to Trump directly.
  7. ^ Lind, Dara (July 20, 2016). "Watch Trump supporter Lynne Patton explain to the RNC that racism still exists". Vox Media. Lynne Patton, the vice president of the Eric Trump Foundation, wasn't the first person of color to speak at Donald Trump's Republican National Convention.
  8. ^ a b Keating, Christopher (July 21, 2016). "Assistant: 'Trump Is Not A Racist': Connecticut At The Conventions". Hartford Courant. p. A4. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  9. ^ Gore, Leada. "2 with Alabama ties among tonight's speakers at Republican National Convention 2016". AL.com. Retrieved June 18, 2017. Patton, who works for Eric Trump's Foundation and as an executive assistant for the candidate's adult children, is the daughter of Curtis L. Patton, Ph.D., a Birmingham native who is now Professor Emeritus of Epidemiology (Microbial Diseases) at Yale University. In her current role, Patton assists with planning all fundraising events for the foundation and its partnership with St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.
  10. ^ a b "Lynne M. Patton". Eric Trump Foundation. Archived from the original on November 16, 2016. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
  11. ^ Wichert, Bill (June 16, 2017). "Reported HUD Leader Not Grad Of Law School In Online Bio". Law360. Retrieved June 17, 2017. A longtime associate of President Donald Trump's family, who reportedly has been tapped to lead federal housing programs in New York and New Jersey, touts attending Quinnipiac University School of Law on her LinkedIn page, but a university official said she only spent two semesters there and never graduated.
  12. ^ a b c Cillizza, Chris (June 16, 2017). "Trump's former event planner could soon be in charge of federal housing programs in New York". CNN.
  13. ^ Smith, Greg (June 16, 2017). "President Trump chooses inexperienced woman who planned his son Eric's wedding to run N.Y. federal housing programs". New York Daily News. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  14. ^ a b Woellert, Lorraine (June 26, 2017). "Trump party planner promoted at HUD after Carson's troubled tour". Politico.
  15. ^ a b c Horwitz, Jeff; Pearson, Jake (June 16, 2016). "Few if any minority senior execs in Trump's empire". The Associated Press.
  16. ^ a b c Matthew Haag, Ex-Trump Official Fined and Barred From Government Over R.N.C. Video, New York Times (April 6, 2021).
  17. ^ Kirkland, Allegra (July 20, 2016). "Trump's Onetime Rivals Resurface For RNC's 'Make America First Again' Night". Talking Points Memo. Retrieved November 16, 2017. played a key role in casting the 2012 and 2014 seasons of "The Celebrity Apprentice."
  18. ^ Trump, Donald J. (February 1, 2017). "Remarks at an African American History Month Listening Session". Daily Compilation of Presidential Documents. Superintendent of Documents: 5.
  19. ^ "10 Must Reads for the CRE Industry Today (June 14, 2017)". National Real Estate Investor. June 14, 2017. Eric Trump Foundation Probe Casts Shadow Over HUD "The New York State Attorney General's investigation into possible misuse of funds at the Eric Trump Foundation is casting a shadow over the Department of Housing and Urban Development, where a former foundation vice president now works as a key adviser to Secretary Ben Carson. Before joining HUD in March, Lynne Patton was a vice president and board member at the Eric Trump Foundation between January 2009 and January 2017, according to her public financial disclosure report."
  20. ^ "On The Record". Fox News. September 2, 2016. Vice president of the Eric Trump Foundation and family ambassador of minority engagement for the Trump campaign, Lynne Patton is here to go ON THE RECORD.....You know, I have been working with the Trump family for seven years. I know Mr. Trump. I know his heart and I know his passion for this country to be true. I am with this family each and every day.
  21. ^ "2016 GOP Convention Program for Wednesday, July 20" (Press release). July 20, 2016.
  22. ^ "CNN.com - Transcripts". www.cnn.com. July 20, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  23. ^ Spellings, Sarah (September 11, 2016). "The Trump-Pence Women's Empowerment Tour Is Real". The Cut. Retrieved June 18, 2017. Led by Lara Trump, the presidential nominee's daughter-in-law, the tour is rounded out by campaign spokeswoman Katrina Pierson, Lynne Patton, and YouTube stars Lynette Hardaway and Rochelle Richardson.
  24. ^ "Who We Are". National Diversity Council for Trump. Archived from the original on November 21, 2017. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  25. ^ Marcos, Cristina (June 16, 2017). "Dem tells Trump to remove family event planner as head of NY federal housing". The Hill. Trump initially placed Patton as a White House liaison at HUD in February.
  26. ^ "Remarks at an African American History Month Listening Session" (PDF). United States Government Publishing Office. February 1, 2017. p. 1. Retrieved June 16, 2017. Department of Housing and Urban Development Director of Public Liaison Lynne Martine Patton.
  27. ^ Bobic, Igor (February 1, 2017). "Trump Convenes Black History Month 'Listening Session' With People Who Like Him". The Huffington Post. Retrieved June 16, 2017. Ms. Lynne Martine Patton, Department of Housing and Urban Development
  28. ^ Miller, Jonathan (April 20, 2017). "Rising Stars 2017: Administration Staffers: Lynne Patton". CQ Roll Call.
  29. ^ Alcindor, Yamiche; Goodman, J. David (June 16, 2017). "Trump Family Wedding Planner to Head New York's Federal Housing Office". The New York Times. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
  30. ^ "Velazquez on Patton Appointment to Lead HUD Region II". Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez (Press release). June 16, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2017. This appointment is a slap in the face to New Yorkers, NYCHA residents and all Americans who rely on well administered HUD programs to have livable housing and safe communities. By all accounts Ms. Patton is fundamentally unqualified for this position. I strongly urge the Administration to revisit this decision, which appears on its face to be shameful patronage at the expense of working families.
  31. ^ "Meng Sends Letter to President Trump Asking He Remove Extremely Unqualified HUD Appointment Lynne Patton". Congresswoman Grace Meng (Press release). June 16, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  32. ^ Mazza, Ed (January 25, 2018). "Trump HUD Official Lynne Patton Under Fire After Calling Journalist 'Miss Piggy'". Huffington Post. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  33. ^ Kacyznski, Andrew (September 18, 2018). "Senior HUD official Lynne Patton attempts to clarify controversial social posts". CNN. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  34. ^ a b c Jan, Tracy (November 30, 2018). "This HUD official is moving from Trump Plaza into public housing. Is it accountability, or a publicity stunt?". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  35. ^ "HUD executive begins 4 week stay at NYCHA complexes". ABC 7 New York. February 11, 2019. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  36. ^ Warren, Michael (February 27, 2019). "Who is Lynne Patton, the surprise guest at the Cohen hearing?". CNN. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  37. ^ Nelson, Sophia A. (February 27, 2019). "Rashida Tlaib is Right: It's Racist to Use a Black Woman as a Prop, Mark Meadows". The Daily Beast. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  38. ^ Jan, Tracy (March 1, 2019). "How a HUD official turned the Michael Cohen hearing into a reality TV audition". Washington Post. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  39. ^ Haltiwanger, John. "Tlaib, Meadows, and Cummings have emotional exchange on racism and Trump late in Cohen hearing". Business Insider. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  40. ^ Spinelli, Dan (August 10, 2019). "A Trump official just posted on Instagram that Jeffrey Epstein was "Hillary'd"". Mother Jones. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  41. ^ Moritz-Rabson, Daniel (May 27, 2019). "Trump HUD Official Lynne Patton Says She Doesn't Care If She Broke the Law". Newsweek.com. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  42. ^ McLaughlin, Aidan (May 27, 2019). "Trump Official Lynne Patton: 'I Honestly Don't Care' if I'm Breaking the Law". MSN.com. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  43. ^ O'Donnell, Katy (September 18, 2019). "Senior HUD official reprimanded for Hatch Act violations". Politico. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  44. ^ Klar, Rebecca (September 18, 2019). "Senior HUD official reprimanded for making political statements on the job". The Hill. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  45. ^ a b c d e Matthew Haag, New Yorkers were tricked into appearing in an R.N.C. video. They’re furious., New York Times (August 28, 2020).
  46. ^ "POGO Concerned About Risk of Implicit Bias in Office of Special Counsel Actions". Project On Government Oversight. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
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