The U.S. Office of Special Counsel has determined that White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre violated the Hatch Act, a law aimed at preventing federal executive branch employees from influencing elections in their official capacities. The violation occurred during a White House press briefing in November, just days before the 2022 midterm election, where Jean-Pierre made disparaging remarks about the GOP and referred to “mega MAGA Republicans.”
The complaint against Jean-Pierre was filed by Protect the Public’s Trust, a watchdog group led by Michael Chamberlain, who previously worked in Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and served in the Department of Education during the Trump administration. In their complaint, the group highlighted Jean-Pierre’s use of her official authority to criticize political opponents, which is prohibited by the Hatch Act.
The Office of Special Counsel, an independent federal agency, agreed with the complaint and issued a warning to Jean-Pierre, acknowledging that her statements interfered with the election. Although the White House counsel’s office initially did not view Jean-Pierre’s remarks as a violation, the Office of Special Counsel concluded otherwise. However, no further disciplinary action will be taken at this time.
Karine Jean-Pierre, the first Black person, first openly LGBTQ+ member, and first immigrant to serve as White House press secretary, has used her position to advocate against homophobia and transphobia. Despite the violation, representatives of Jean-Pierre were not immediately available for comment.
Protect the Public’s Trust, though claiming nonpartisanship, has predominantly filed complaints against officials in President Joe Biden’s administration. The group criticized the Office of Special Counsel’s decision, describing it as an “odd deferral of authority”. Michael Chamberlain, in a press release, emphasized that Jean-Pierre’s actions were a clear breach of the Hatch Act and expressed concerns about the government’s declining trust.
The White House, acknowledging the opinion, stated that they take the law seriously and uphold the Hatch Act, while reviewing the matter. As this episode unfolds, it raises further questions about the public’s diminishing trust in the government and the ethical conduct of officials in high positions.