White House press secretary Jen Psaki was accused yesterday of a potential Hatch Act violation by endorsing Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe from the White House podium.
Fox News’ Kayleigh McEnany, who faced a lot of heat when she was former President Donald Trump’s press secretary, highlighted the apparent violation in a tweet.
Matthew Foldi, a journalist at the Free Beacon, shared a clip of Psaki during the press briefing where she said, “Again, we’re going to do everything we can to help former governor McAuliffe, and we believe in the agenda he’s representing.”
McEnany quote tweeted Foldi and asked, “Why does the media not hold @PressSec accountable for potential Hatch Act violations?”
“She has twice advocated for political candidates from the podium. There is no problem in engaging in First Amendment political activity, but it must be done separate and apart from the podium,” McEnany explained.
Why does the media not hold @PressSec accountable for potential Hatch Act violations? She has twice advocated for political candidates from the podium.
— Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) October 15, 2021
There is no problem in engaging in First Amendment political activity, but it must be done separate and apart from the podium. https://t.co/ICLldHRCgs
It has now been reported that Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics (CREW), a government watchdog group, has filed a complaint with the Office of Special Counsel seeking an investigation into whether Psaki violated Hatch Act.
The federal law bans federal employees from using their positions to campaign for political candidates.
CREW President Noah Bookbinder said in a statement, “The last administration systematically co-opted the government for the president’s reelection. While this conduct does not come close to rising to the level of the outrageous offenses of the Trump administration, that does not mean we should be casual about compliance with an important ethics law. The Biden administration should not follow the Trump administration down that path.”
Progressives have also defended Psaki by suggesting that the previous administration disregarded the Hatch Act repeatedly.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ press secretary Christina Pushaw weighed in on the hypocrisy in a quote tweet of McEnany where she said, “Activist Progressives calling Kayleigh a hypocrite and rehashing media accusations of her violating the Hatch Act as Press Secretary… are proving her point.”
“Media pounced on everything political she did (off the podium) but are silent as Psaki campaigns from White House podium,” Pushaw noted.
Activist Progressives calling Kayleigh a hypocrite and rehashing media accusations of her violating the Hatch Act as Press Secretary… are proving her point.
— Christina Pushaw (@ChristinaPushaw) October 15, 2021
Media pounced on everything political she did (off the podium) but are silent as Psaki campaigns from White House podium. https://t.co/Vqlo9imwep
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