(Robert Jonathan, Headline USA) White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre is reportedly the latest Biden administration official to have violated the federal law known as the Hatch Act.
It appears that the White House spokeswoman won’t be subject to any disciplinary action, however.
In early November 2022, approximately a week shy of the midterm elections, an organization called Protect the Public’s Trust lodged a complaint against Jean-Pierre over her statement from the podium that “mega MAGA Republican officials…don’t believe in the rule of law.”
During the same presser, she also reportedly made other comments that disparaged GOP candidates.
Under the Hatch Act, which was enacted in 1939, federal executive branch employees are prohibited from using their official status for political campaign activity.
After an investigation, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel determined that Jean-Pierre had violated the law.
“Because Ms. Jean‐Pierre made the statements while acting in her official capacity, she violated the Hatch Act prohibition against using her official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election,” OSC official Ana Galindo‐Marrone said, according to NBC News.
Marrone added that “making the references constituted political activity,’ but the agency “decided not to pursue disciplinary action and have instead issued Ms. Jean‐Pierre a warning letter,” The Hill reported.
The letter, purportedly shared with NBC, had not been released into the public domain as of Tuesday afternoon.
In a statement, White House spokesman Andrew Bates claimed that the President Joe Biden and his staff were taking the offense seriously.
“As has been made clear throughout the administration, we take the law seriously and uphold the Hatch Act,” he said. “We are reviewing this opinion.”
But the Biden administration’s track-record of failing to hold top officials accountable for violating the law speaks for itself.
Jean-Pierre’s predecessor, MSNBC host Jen Psaki—along with former Biden chief of staff Ron Klain, and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge were all previously determined to have run afoul of the Hatch Act but received a metaphorical lap on the wrist.
Most recently, the charges were dropped against a federal prosecutor, Rachael Rollins, who was found to have committed egregious ethical violations while campaigning on behalf of a fellow Democrat. She stepped down of her own accord but faced no further consequences.
Potential penalties for Hatch Act violations, which in practice may be theoretical, can include suspension, demotion, termination, or a civil fine of up to $1,000.
Protect the Public’s Trust said that it is “dedicated to ensuring there is only one standard—one set of rules that our leaders must live by no matter what party affiliation or ideological bent.”
The watchdog group’s director, ex-Trump administration official Michael Chamberlain, assailed the way the OSC resolved the Jean-Pierre matter.
“This episode illustrates exactly what people hate about Washington, D.C. and why they increasingly distrust the Biden Administration’s promises to be the most ethical in history,” he said.
Chamberlain went to say that “The Hatch Act was a law used to pillory previous administrations but officials now appear content to sweep it under the rug.”
From time to time, Biden is fond of using the term “mega MAGA Republicans” in speeches, which is perhaps the reason that Jean-Pierre adopted that terminology/talking point.
NBC noted that Jean-Pierre often relies on the Hatch Act to dodge questions from reporters.
The Hatch Act exempts the president and vice president from its main provision.
