White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre is facing questions about whether she believes she violated federal law.
On Monday, NBC News reported a government watchdog found the press secretary ran afoul of the Hatch Act, a federal law that prevents officials from using their positions to influence elections, by using the term “mega MAGA Republicans.”
During a press briefing on Tuesday, a reporter asked, “Do you believe that you violated the Hatch Act with those comments about ‘MAGA Republicans’?”
“What I can say is, at the time, I was given the sign-off to use that terminology,” Jean-Pierre responded.
She continued, “The letter that we received was from last week. We received that letter for something I said months ago, so it was retroactive, if you will.”
Watch the video below:
"Do you believe that you violated the Hatch Act with those comments about 'MAGA Republicans'?"
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) June 13, 2023
Karine Jean-Pierre: "I was given the sign-off to use that terminology!" pic.twitter.com/piaXdAUYoR
Jean-Pierre has previously declined to comment on issues as she cited the Hatch Act.
However, she did criticize what she called “mega MAGA Republicans” in the run-up to the 2022 midterm elections.
Yet last week, the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) found the press secretary violated the Hatch Act.
The watchdog organization Protect the Public’s Trust filed a complaint about Jean-Pierre’s comments on November 3.
In a letter to the organization’s leader, Ana Galindo‐Marrone, who leads the OSC’s Hatch Act Unit, wrote, “Because Ms. Jean‐Pierre made the statements while acting in her official capacity, she violated the Hatch Act prohibition against using her official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election.”
“We have decided not to pursue disciplinary action and have instead issued Ms. Jean‐Pierre a warning letter,” the letter added.
It noted the press secretary “used the phrase ‘MAGA Republicans’ repeatedly during official press briefings prior to the November 2022 midterm election.”
And while she “never expressly instructed viewers to vote for or against Republican candidates,” the OSC said she “made those references to generate opposition to Republican candidates.”
However, it did not pursue action against Jean-Pierre because it pointed out “the White House Counsel’s Office did not at the time believe that Ms. Jean‐Pierre’s remarks were prohibited by the Hatch Act, and it is unclear whether OSC’s contrary analysis regarding the use of ‘MAGA Republicans’ was ever conveyed to Ms. Jean‐Pierre.”
Finally, the OSC warned, “We have advised Ms. Jean‐Pierre that should she again engage in prohibited political activity, OSC would consider it a knowing and willful violation of the law that could result in OSC pursuing disciplinary action.”
