The independent federal agency that oversees compliance with the Hatch Act has recommended that President Donald Trump’s top aide Kellyanne Conway be removed from her job after she repeatedly used her office for political purposes.
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel sent a report to Trump on Thursday that said Conway violated the law numerous times by criticizing Democratic presidential candidates while speaking in her official capacity during television interviews and on social media. It is the first time the office, which is not affiliated with former special counsel Robert Mueller and the Russia investigation, has made such a recommendation for a White House official.
The office, which described Conway as a “repeat offender,” wrote: “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. Her actions thus erode the principal foundation of our democratic system—the rule of law.”
Conway did not respond to a request for comment, “Blah, blah, blah,” she said May 29th when she was asked about the Hatch Act by reporters at the White House. “If you’re trying to silence me through the Hatch Act, it’s not going to work. Let me know when the jail sentence starts.”
A senior administration official said the president had no plans to discipline or remove Conway and is standing behind her, while a spokesman criticized the Office of Special Counsel for being kowtowing to liberal organizations.
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It is the first time the office (which is not affiliated with former special counsel Robert Mueller and the Russia investigation) has made such a recommendation for a White House official https://t.co/jWoLICQ8WQ
— POLITICO (@politico) June 13, 2019
Kellyanne Conway, May 29: "The fact is I haven't been found in violation of the Hatch Act based on the 2020 election."
RELATED: Federal watchdog recommends Conway be removed from role for Hatch Act violations https://t.co/dkFEGNalrO pic.twitter.com/LtgRie9ZKp
— The Hill (@thehill) June 13, 2019
Office of Special Counsel recommends Kellyanne Conway be removed from federal service for repeated violations of Hatch Act. White House says the report is "deeply flawed." Trump has joked in the past about Hatch Act.
— Josh Dawsey (@jdawsey1) June 13, 2019
Not holding my breath. She would have been gone long ago in any other administration, given repeated Hatch Act violations. https://t.co/2u8bCtXoaR
— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) June 13, 2019
Kellyanne Conway will not be fired over this Hatch Act business.
Continued violations of the law are a feature, not a bug, and will be rewarded, not punished.
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) June 13, 2019
Watching Trump surrogates argue that the Hatch Act is an outdated threat to free speech is really an unexpected pleasure. pic.twitter.com/W3VwDlu9PW
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) June 13, 2019
Seven miles above the North Atlantic on the way home from Trump's golf vacation, Kellyanne Conway was writing tweets on Air Force One attacking Joe Biden.
Perhaps even more Hatch Act violations.https://t.co/6HeQYoFcFF
— S.V. Dáte (@svdate) June 13, 2019
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