Watchdog: White House press secretary acted "contrary" to Hatch Act
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White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre at the White House on Nov. 30. Photo: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds /AFP via Getty Images
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and spokesperson Andrew Bates acted "contrary" to a Hatch Act warning, an independent federal agency said in a letter made public Friday.
Driving the news: The Office of Special Counsel sent the White House a separate letter, obtained by NBC News, concluding that use of the term "MAGA" went against official guidance on adhering to a federal law restricting government employees from engaging in partisan political activities.
- But the special counsel found no evidence that either Jean-Pierre or Bates used the term in an official capacity since June 14, per the letter sent to Michael Chamberlain, a former Trump administration official who leads the group Protect the Public's Trust.
- "We take the law seriously and uphold the Hatch Act," a White House official told Axios.
Zoom in: Chamberlain filed a Hatch Act complaint against Jean-Pierre and Bates in June.
- The group, which tracks Biden administration ethics waivers, received a response from the special counsel dated Oct. 19, which said that while the agency determined the actions of Jean-Pierre and Bates were "contrary to our June 7 warning letter and advisory opinion," they "are not pursuing disciplinary action and are closing the matter."
What they're saying: The special counsel told Axios Friday it generally does not publicly release findings of its Hatch Act investigations "except in limited circumstances."
- The independent federal agency said when an investigation is concluded, it provides the complainant and the subject of the complaint a letter of its findings.
Meanwhile, Chamberlain called the special counsel's response "cowed" in a statement Friday that also alleged "blatant defiance of the White House's most public-facing personnel."
The big picture: It's the second time Jean-Pierre has been warned by the Office of Special Counsel that her use of the term "MAGA" goes against official guidance on adhering to a federal law restricting government employees from engaging in partisan political activities.
Catch up quick: Back in June, in response to a separate complaint from Chamberlain's group, the special counsel found that Jean‐Pierre acted contrary to the Hatch Act by using the term "MAGA Republicans."
- The agency did not pursue any disciplinary action against her.
- On the same day, the special counsel sent guidance to agencies that stated "MAGA" was off-limits because it was too closely connected with former President Trump's campaign for the White House.
- The White House pushed back at the time and said it would continue to use the term "MAGA."
Of note: More than a dozen former Trump administration officials were found to have violated the Hatch Act, including trade adviser Peter Navarro.
Go deeper: White House elbows back on "MAGA" Hatch Act violation
