White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has been found in violation of the Hatch Act by the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), a federal watchdog agency.
The violation is related to Jean-Pierre’s public reference to “mega MAGA Republicans” during the period leading up to the 2022 midterm elections. The Hatch Act prohibits federal employees from using their official positions to influence electoral outcomes.
In a letter to the conservative watchdog group Protect the Public’s Trust, Ana Galindo‐Marrone, who heads the OSC’s Hatch Act Unit, stated, “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.”
Jean-Pierre’s comments were initially highlighted by Protect the Public’s Trust in a complaint filed in November 2022. The organization described her remarks as an “inappropriate attempt to influence the vote.” Nevertheless, despite finding the press secretary in violation of the law, the OSC opted not to pursue disciplinary action and instead issued her a warning letter.
The White House’s initial response to this matter was a statement from spokesperson Andrew Bates, who said, “As has been made clear throughout the administration, we take the law seriously and uphold the Hatch Act. We are reviewing this opinion.”
Reacting to the development, Michael Chamberlain, the head of Protect the Public’s Trust, criticized the lack of action and expressed his belief that incidents like this fostered public distrust in the Biden administration’s ethical commitments. Chamberlain stated, “This episode illustrates exactly what people hate about Washington, DC and why they increasingly distrust the Biden Administration’s promises to be the most ethical in history.”
It’s noteworthy that the Hatch Act has been breached before. A report from the OSC in 2021 criticized Trump administration officials for their frequent violations of the law, calling it “especially pernicious.” Meanwhile, Biden administration officials argue that the term “MAGA” has been often used for official government purposes by Republicans, separate from campaigning.
Jean-Pierre herself has frequently referenced the Hatch Act when declining to respond to certain questions from journalists, particularly those related to the 2022 midterms and the upcoming 2024 presidential race.
