The Hill reports that the Office of Special Counsel ruled May 16 that Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai did not violate the Hatch Act in a panel discussion at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February. But, the government watchdog will be conducting ethics training with FCC employees. The Office of Special Counsel previously said that one FCC commissioner, Michael O'Rielly, did violate the Hatch Act during the CPAC panel when he urged voters to reelect President Donald Trump. "After considering all of the facts and circumstances surrounding the event, OSC has concluded that you did not violate the Hatch Act by merely participating in the panel discussion in an official capacity," OSC official Ana Galindo-Marrone wrote in the letter to Pai. At the same event, Pai turned down a gun, given as an award from the group, after ethics lawyers advised him not to accept the weapon. "We are... gratified that the Special Counsel agreed that the FCC needs more training regarding the Hatch Act. We hope this training will help curb the spike in political activity that has been taking place at the supposedly independent FCC,” a spokesperson for Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee said.