No discipline for Karine Jean-Pierre for Hatch Act violation – White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre is getting criticism from conservative media for violating the Hatch Act by denouncing “mega MAGA Republicans” in the run up to the 2022 midterm elections.
The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) released a letter Monday that definitively concluded that Jean-Pierre chose her words in order “to generate opposition to Republican candidates,” and were therefore illegal “political activity” given that she made the comments “while acting in her official capacity.” Despite the violation, though, it does not appear that Jean-Pierre will face any direct consequences at this time.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Monday, June 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)No discipline for Karine Jean-Pierre for Hatch Act violation
OSC, an independent agency, investigated a November 2022 complaint against Jean-Pierre made by the group Protect the Public’s Trust which called attention to remarks Jean-Pierre made during a press briefing a few days before the mid-term elections. The complaint, signed by PPT director Michael Chamberlain, alleged that during an official press briefing, Jean-Pierre “made comments disparaging President Biden’s political opponents as ‘mega MAGA Republican officials who don’t believe in the rule of law,’ among other derogatory statements.”
Notably, Chamberlain himself could fairly be described as a “MAGA Republican official,” having served in the Department of Education during the presidency of Donald Trump, who ran for office on the “Make American Great Again,” or MAGA, slogan. His advocacy group was launched shortly after President Joe Biden took office in 2021; it was initially billed as a “nonpartisan” and “nonprofit” entity, although according to media reports, its not entirely clear that is the case.
