White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre responded to allegations by the special counsel that she had violated the Hatch Act by stating that the White House "did not know" that a violation had occurred.
The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) accused Jean-Pierre of violating the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in certain political activities to influence elections.
Karine Jean-Pierre Violated Hatch Act
The accusation concerned her use of "Mega MAGA" to characterize Republican policies, but she now contends that Republicans have also used the term and that she was unaware that the OSC considered it to be political.
According to the OSC, Jean-Pierre committed the violation prior to the midterm elections in 2022 by repeatedly referring to "mega MAGA Republicans" while serving as White House press secretary.
Jean-Pierre herself has frequently invoked the Hatch Act to avoid inquiries regarding Biden's and other candidates' election campaigns. Per Fox News, she reiterated on Tuesday that compliance with federal law was a high White House priority. Jean-Pierre reportedly used the reference in press briefings preceding the midterm elections in November 2022.
Although she "never expressly instructed viewers to vote for or against Republican candidates for elected office," the OSC determined, based on the timing, frequency, and content of her references, that she made these references to generate opposition to Republican candidates, according to a letter of complaint.
Per Aljazeera, Jean-Pierre stated, when asked about the ruling during her Tuesday briefing, that she had used language provided to her by Joe Biden's White House staff.
She stated that former President Donald Trump's administration frequently referred to "MAGA Republicans." Trump's political slogan, Make America Great Again (MAGA) is shortened to MAGA. Jean-Pierre stated that White House attorneys would contact the Office of Special Counsel to examine the decision.
Michael Chamberlain, head of Protect the Public's Trust and a former Trump administration official, stated that Jean-Pierre's violation of the law without consequence demonstrates why Americans "increasingly distrust" the Biden administration's ethics claims, despite its pledge to uphold the highest standards.
In a report released in November 2021, the Office of Special Counsel described the conduct of Trump administration officials as "particularly pernicious" in light of statements made prior to the 2020 presidential election.
Democrats Fires Back About Republicans Using MAGA Term
According to NBC News, a Biden administration official argued on Monday that Republicans have frequently used the acronym "MAGA" for non-campaigning purposes. The official stated that the Trump White House used the phrase "Make America Great Again" nearly 2,000 times for official purposes and that congressional Republicans have used "MAGA" for official purposes, including legislation and policy proposals.
Recently, Jean-Pierre cited the Hatch Act in refusing to comment on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s announcement that he would challenge President Joe Biden for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2024, telling reporters: "It's 2024.... I will not touch that with a twelve-foot pole."
She also used it to clarify whether or not Biden would serve the full eight-year term if re-elected. The Office of Special Counsel stated in April that Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra violated the Hatch Act when he advocated for the election of Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., to a complete term at an event last autumn.
In October, Jean-Pierre acknowledged that Biden's former chief of staff, Ron Klain, had violated the Hatch Act by retweeting a political message on his official Twitter account. She stated that although the White House takes the provision seriously, it is "not flawless."
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