Who doesn’t remember the number of times that various ethical organizations referred members of the Trump administration for review of Hatch Act violations?
The Hatch Act was passed into law in 1939 and makes it illegal for federal employees to engage in political activities while on the job. If there was ever a law created for the Trump administration to break, it’s the Hatch Act because Trump never had any policy or agenda beyond promoting Trump. It was all politics. The president is exempt from the Hatch Act, but that didn’t mean that his entire operation wasn’t also 100% political.
Perhaps that is why Citizens for Ethics reports [1] that in October 2020, “at least 16 Trump administration officials have violated the Hatch Act a total of more than 60 times, in an unprecedented and escalating assault on the rule of law and the democratic process.”
Additionally, as it is nearly impossible to forget, Kayleigh McEnany was also accused [2] of “blurring lines between government and politics and violating longstanding norms, and, in many cases, the Hatch Act, which bans political activity in the federal workplace.”
And yet on Thursday, Kayleigh was set to make her stand:
“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.
Remarkably, on this one, Kayleigh is likely correct! Jen Psaki really shouldn’t be talking about supporting a governor’s agenda and someone probably ought to make sure that those kinds of answers no longer come from the White House grounds, or – if they do, they should come from President Biden himself.
But criticism of Hatch Act violations coming from Kayleigh??? A Trump administration alum?
Why does the media not hold @PressSec [3] 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. https://t.co/ICLldHRCgs [4]
— Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) October 15, 2021 [5]
That is really rich. Mary Trump may have had the absolute best response:
Seriously? Fuck off.
— Mary L Trump (@MaryLTrump) October 15, 2021 [6]
Others were right behind her:
This is Trumpism – break the laws, break the rules, do whatever the hell you want, and always play a victim https://t.co/y5NC85MeOV [7]
— KnowYourObama (@KnowYourObama) October 15, 2021 [8]
You held *the RNC* at the White House????? https://t.co/7IqPjWuft6 [9]
— Keith Edwards (@keithedwards) October 15, 2021 [10]
How fuckin stupid are you https://t.co/rLnLFMbAEv [11]
— ashwholovesmichelob (@sunsarsenaldbax) October 15, 2021 [12]
Fine. But methinks you need to be held accountable for your own Hatch Act violations yourself. Weren't you a senior advisor to Trump's re-election campaign at the same time you were White House press secretary? https://t.co/xnesvhsK8f [13]
— Whatever you want. (@Caterpillopantz) October 15, 2021 [14]
To the fucking idiots that keep saying there is a double standard for democrats vs. republicans. No there isn't. This isn't a violation of the Hatch act. @kayleighmcenany [15] Violated it by being press secretary and TRUMPS FUCKING CAMPAIGN ADVISOR. Fucking morons everyone of you. https://t.co/MfqhV26bVU [16]
— LloidRNG (@Lloid_RNG) October 15, 2021 [17]
How about you just voluntarily surrender to the DC US Attorney? https://t.co/KN1r3FTClO [18]
— Key to DC (@KeytoDC) October 15, 2021 [19]
Can we start with Kellyanne Conway?
"Only" 50 #HatchAct [20] violations during her tenure
K-Lee is a dolt!https://t.co/VRYbDNGX2d [21] https://t.co/FVN66ulDey [22]— BXBroad70 (@broad70) October 15, 2021 [23]
Why don’t you do the whole world a favor and just shut the fuck up, White Supremacist Barbie. https://t.co/PknvD3cQh1 [24]
— Justin (@JEEZUS1919) October 15, 2021 [25]
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[email protected] and on Twitter @JasonMiciak