The U.S. Office of Special Counsel has warned White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre that her attacks on “MAGA Republicans” violate the Hatch Act, which bars federal employees from engaging in partisan politics.
The warning was revealed in a letter published by the Washington Post on Tuesday from the Office of Special Counsel to Protect the Public’s Trust, an organization of former federal employees focused on ethics rules.
The letter reveals that the Office of Special Counsel, an independent investigative agency not related to the Special Counsel within the Department of Justice, decided not to take disciplinary action.
The letter states, in part:
Your complaint alleged that Ms. Jean‐Pierre used the phrase “mega MAGA Republican[s]” as part of “an inappropriate attempt to influence the vote.” In investigating the allegation, OSC discovered that Ms. Jean‐Pierre used the phrase “MAGA Republicans” repeatedly during official press briefings prior to…