Watchdog Group Files Hatch Act Complaint Against White House Press Secretary Over ‘Mega MAGA Republican’ Comment
- November 6, 2022
Mimi Nguyen Ly, NTD
A government watchdog group announced it filed a complaint against White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre alleging that she had violated the Hatch Act, a federal law that limits the political activities of federal employees, over remarks she made about “Mega MAGA Republican” officials.
Protect the Public’s Trust (PPT)—a group that seeks to ensure government officials abide by the rules, including by informing the American public about “the self-dealing and conflicts of interest, and the improper and illegal behavior of senior officials across the government”—on Nov. 3 filed a complaint (pdf) to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) over Jean-Pierre’s remarks at a press conference on Nov. 2.
“Unfortunately, we have seen mega MAGA Republican officials who don’t believe in the rule of law,” Jean-Pierre had stated at the briefing. “They refuse to accept the results of free and fair elections, and they fan the flames of political violence through what they praise and what they refuse to condemn.”
Michael Chamberlain, director of the watchdog group, said the comments were “disparaging President [Joe] Biden’s political opponents.”