A government watchdog has determined that White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre breached the Hatch Act, a law designed to prevent federal employees from using their official positions to influence elections. The Office of Special Counsel concluded that Jean-Pierre's repeated use of the term "mega MAGA Republicans" in her official capacity prior to the 2022 midterm elections constituted a violation.
The Office of Special Counsel stated in a letter that Jean-Pierre's remarks were "an inappropriate attempt to influence the vote." The investigation stemmed from a complaint filed by Protect the Public's Trust, an organization focused on government accountability. While the OSC issued Jean-Pierre a warning letter, they opted to close the matter without further action, noting that the White House Counsel did not initially consider the comments a violation.
During a November 2nd press briefing, Jean-Pierre criticized "mega MAGA Republican officials," accusing them of undermining the rule of law, rejecting election results, and inciting political violence. She emphasized the importance of President Biden's condemnation of such actions. The term "mega MAGA" was initially used by President Biden to criticize Republican economic policies.
The White House responded to the OSC's findings, stating their commitment to upholding the Hatch Act and reviewing the opinion. It's worth noting that Jean-Pierre frequently invokes the Hatch Act during press briefings to avoid answering questions about President Biden's reelection campaign or other political candidates.
Supporters of the White House have pointed out the frequent use of "Make America Great Again" by the Trump administration and the term "MAGA" by congressional Republicans for official purposes. They argue this context should be considered when evaluating Jean-Pierre's statements.
