The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) issued a report Thursday that suggested presidential adviser, Kellyanne Conway, be fired for violating the Hatch Act.
What We Know:
- The Hatch Act prohibits government employees from engaging in certain political activity. In the report sent to President Trump from the OSC, it details “numerous violations” where Conway breaks the law by making derogatory comments about Democratic presidential candidates in interviews and on social media while acting in her official capacity as an aide to the president.
- In November, the OSC found that six Trump administration officials violated the act by tweeting their support of Republicans. However, Conway publicly laughed at the act after a reporter told her that her comments could violate the law. “Let me
know when the jail sentence starts,” said Conway. OSC urged Trump to take action and punish Conway for her violations as a “repeat offender.” - Steven Groves, the White House deputy press secretary criticized the decision. “The Office of Special Counsel’s (OSC) unprecedented actions against Kellyanne Conway are deeply flawed and violate her constitutional rights to free speech and due process,” he said.
- After the report was released, House Oversight Chairman Elijah E. Cummings called for Conway to resign and announced the committee will hold a hearing with the OSC and Conway on June 26. Conway has not responded to the report or Cummings’ invitation to the hearing.
- Henry Kerner, a Trump appointee in charge of the OSC, stands by his recommendation to remove Conway from office. “My job is to make sure the federal workforce stay as depoliticized and as fair as possible,” said Kerner.
Ultimately, Trump decided not to fire Conway for her violations. “No, I’m not going to fire her,” he said on Fox News. He then characterized the report as a violation of her First Amendment rights.
