On Thursday, the US Office of Special Counsel, a separate entity from Robert Mueller’s now-closed probe, accused White House adviser Kellyanne Conway of having “repeatedly violated the Hatch Act,” calling her “a repeat offender.”
Additionally, the Office of Special Counsel recommended Conway “be removed from federal service,” in a move which quickly prompted outrage from conservatives.
U.S. Office of Special Counsel finds Kellyanne Conway repeatedly violated the Hatch Act: “Given that Ms. Conway is a repeat offender and has shown disregard for the law, OSC recommends that she be removed from federal service.” https://t.co/97JW3IKhMW pic.twitter.com/yF4a6t6c9Y
— Dan Linden (@DanLinden) June 13, 2019
Text of @US_OSC statement on letter to @POTUS urging removal of @KellyannePolls pic.twitter.com/B1DFrju9jS
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 13, 2019
The White House quickly replied, condemning the OSC’s findings as “deeply flawed,” as well as claiming a violation of Conway’s “constitutional rights to free speech and due process.”
Continuing, the White House admonished the OSC for “unclear and unevenly applied rules,” suggesting an attempt to “weaponize the Hatch Act,” which it called “a chilling effect on free speech for all federal employees.”
New: White House rejects OSC’s recommendation that Trump fire Kellyanne Conway over Hatch Act violations, saying their findings are “deeply flawed and violate her constitutional rights to free speech and due process” https://t.co/icghj1ZXNj pic.twitter.com/IPNvdKGzTH
— Jordan Fabian (@Jordanfabian) June 13, 2019
WH statement also critical of @US_OSC for “unclear and unevenly applied rules.” Says they have “a chilling effect on free speech for all federal employees.” Says OSC should act “in a fair, impartial, non-political manner, and not misinterpret or weaponize the Hatch Act.”
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 13, 2019