Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre violated Hatch Act

Since taking on the role of White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre has become known for frequently dodging questions by citing the Hatch Act. The law bars civil servants from politicking during their day jobs, and Jean-Pierre uses it to deflect reporters’ questions involving campaigns.

But apparently she wasn’t careful enough. The Office of Special Counsel, a government agency that enforces the Hatch Act, said in a recent letter that Jean-Pierre violated the law before last year’s midterm elections.

Jean-Pierre has received a warning letter.

The OSC sent a letter explaining the violation to Michael Chamberlain, a former Trump administration official and director of the Protect the Public’s Trust organization after Chamberlain filed a complaint against Jean-Pierre. He said in the complaint that Jean-Pierre used the phrase “mega MAGA Republican[s]” in an “inappropriate attempt to influence the vote.”

“OSC has investigated your allegation and concluded that Ms. Jean‐Pierre violated the Hatch Act. However … we have decided not to pursue disciplinary action and have instead issued Ms. Jean‐Pierre a warning letter,” OSC’s Hatch Act Unit chief Ana Galindo-Marrone said in the June 7 letter.

The goal of the Hatch Act is “to ensure that federal programs are administered in a nonpartisan fashion, to protect federal employees from political coercion in the workplace, and to ensure that federal employees are advanced based on merit and not based on political affiliation.” The act was established in 1939 and most recently updated in 2012.

Galindo-Marrone wrote, “OSC concluded that the timing, frequency, and content of Ms. Jean‐Pierre’s references to ‘MAGA Republicans’ established that she made those references to generate opposition to Republican candidates. Accordingly, making the references constituted political activity. 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.”

When asked about the findings, Jean‐Pierre described the OSC's action as "retroactive," adding, "we did not know their opinion when ... we were given the green light to actually say the comments that I made. So I just want to make that very clear."

She added that since she received the warning letter, the White House Counsel's Office is reviewing their opinion and will have a "dialogue" with the OSC.

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Sarah H

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