A federal watchdog agency recommended Thursday that White House counselor Kellyanne Conway be fired from her post for repeatedly violating the Hatch Act, which specifically prohibits federal employees from engaging in election activity while in their official roles, according to The Hill:
The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) sent a 16-page report to Trump accusing Conway of breaking the law on numerous occasions by “by disparaging Democratic presidential candidates while speaking in her official capacity during television interviews and on social media” and calling on the president to oust her “immediately.”
“As a highly visible member of the administration, Ms. Conway’s violations, if left unpunished, would send a message to all federal employees that they need not abide by the Hatch Act’s restrictions,” special counsel Henry Kerner wrote to Trump. “Her actions thus erode the principal foundation of our democratic system—the rule of law.”
Wow. The Office of Special Counsel finds that @KellyannePolls repeatedly violated the Hatch Act and **is recommending her removal from federal service.** pic.twitter.com/LMC258AF7g
— Alex Mallin (@alex_mallin) June 13, 2019
By the way, this “Special Counsel” office has nothing to do with Robert Mueller.
Not surprisingly, the White House rejected the recommendation from the special counsel, calling his findings are “deeply flawed and violate her constitutional rights to free speech and due process.”
The office of special counsel which oversees the actions of federal employees has never before called for the firing of a White House employee for violating the Hatch Act, meaning Conway is now the recipient of the dubious honor.
White House spokesman Steven Groves defended Conway by alleging the investigation had been politically motivated:
“Its decisions seem to be influenced by media pressure and liberal organizations – and perhaps OSC should be mindful of its own mandate to act in a fair, impartial, non-political manner, and not misinterpret or weaponize the Hatch Act.”
Acting in her official capacity as a member of the Trump administration, Conway has repeatedly made political attacks on the president’s critics, which is in direct violation of the Hatch Act. But considering that this White House seems to believe that the laws don’t apply to it, it’s no surprise that they would again thumb their nose at yet another prohibition.
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