White House press secretary criticized for using her official position to campaign for office

A federal watchdog found that White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre violated a law prohibiting federal employees from using their offices to influence elections.

According to Ana Galindo-Marrone, director of the Hatch Act Unit of the Office of Special Counsel, the Press Secretary violated that law by making comments disparaging Republican candidates shortly before the 2022 midterm elections.

“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,” Galindo-Marrone explained.

“Mega MAGA (Make America Great Again) Republican officials who don’t believe in the rule of law” was one of several comments apparently made by Jean-Pierre during a White House Press conference.

But even though the watchdog agency considered the Press Secretary’s words “an improper attempt” to influence the elections, the Unit decided not to take disciplinary action but only to send a warning letter to the Press Secretary.

Michael Chamberlain, a former Trump Administration official, highlighted the lack of repercussions for Jean-Pierre’s violation as one of several reasons why Americans increasingly distrust the ethics of the Biden administration.

“This episode illustrates exactly what people hate about Washington, DC, and why they increasingly distrust the Biden Administration’s promises to be the most ethical in history. The Hatch Act was a law used to pillory previous administrations, but officials now appear content to sweep it under the rug,” Chamberlain said.