Watchdog files Hatch Act complaint against Jen Psaki over comments on Virginia governor's race

[spanone]

Last edited Sat Oct 16, 2021, 12:50 PM - Edit history (1)

I don't remember this being a CNN headline as tfg's administration violated it constantly.

(CNN)Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has filed a Hatch Act complaint against White House press secretary Jen Psaki, alleging that she appeared to have endorsed Terry McAuliffe during a White House press briefing on Thursday.

According to the US Office of Special Counsel, the agency charged with investigating Hatch Act violations, the law prohibits federal employees from "using their official titles or positions while engaged in political activity," including "any activity directed at the success or failure of a political party, candidate for partisan political office, or partisan political group."

During the briefing, Psaki acknowledged that she could not make an endorsement from the podium, saying, "I have to be a little careful about how much political analysis I do from here, and not, not traipse into that too much."

She then told reporters: "We're going to do everything we can to help former Governor McAuliffe, and we believe in the agenda he's representing."

https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/15/politics/hatch-act-jen-psaki/index.html

[jimfields33]

1. Yeah. I was surprised she said that during a press briefing

But she clearly didn’t with malice. Cut her some slack!!!!!

[Alexander Of Assyria]

7. Precisely. As opposed to the gleeful malice of the previous fascists in the WH.

“CREW acknowledged that Psaki's potential violation "is nowhere near as extreme as those of her predecessors.”

"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," CREW President Noah Bookbinder told CNN in a statement Friday. "The Biden administration should not follow the Trump administration down that path."

Agree with CREW’s objectiveness, though the fact of no malice means nothing was violated.

[Kingofalldems]

18. I hope she does it again.

Won't even come close to Trump's people.

[joetheman]

21. But isn't she speaking for the President who is campaigning for MacAuliff? nt

[KS Toronado]

2. That's nothing compared to with what the Qrump family got away with.

[DURHAM D]

3. Seriously???

What crap after Trump's four years.

[Ritabert]

5. They all did

Somebody should have filed a Hatch Act complaint on the whole gang of them.

[Lettuce Be]

6. BFD -- Exactly how many times did the tRump admin violate Hatch Act?

I don't even know the details but I say who cares

[chowder66]

8. Crew filed Hatch Act Complaints throughout TFG's Term.

https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/at-least-15-more-hatch-act-violations-by-trump-officials-during-the-conventions/

https://www.citizensforethics.org/legal-actions/page/2/?topics=ethics-reform

[spanone]

14. 16 Trump administration officials violated the law to boost Trump campaign in October 2020 alone

https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-reports/sixteen-trump-administration-officials-violated-the-law-to-boost-trump-campaign-in-october/

[chowder66]

16. +1

[eShirl]

9. She should avoid doing that in the future.

[Takket]

10. honestly who cares? 5 years ago I probably would have told you she should resign

but the Hatch Act is a law on paper only. For four years the law was simply not enforced.

As soon as Ivanka gets prosecuted for the Goya beans debacle, you can go ahead and prosecute Psaki too. Deal?

[wryter2000]

11. Color me unimpressed

I suppose CREW is right, but it's hard to get too exercised about it. I guess Psaki should be more careful about this.

[bucolic_frolic]

13. KA Conway

how many times did she do similar and worse?

[stopdiggin]

15. I like the idea that standards (and actual laws)

might again come into play. Others should too. Jen - you're a dynamite spokesman, and a huge asset - please be a little more cautious on matters such as these in the future.

----- -----

[Hekate]

17. CREW just lost a major portion of its credibility. Where were they 2016-2020?

[jimfields33]

24. See number 8

[Mysterian]

20. Didn't we learn from the numerous trump mafia violations

that the Hatch Act doesn't mean jack shit?

[demmiblue]

22. I have no problem with this, and continue to be supportive of their role...

as watchdogs.

They were all over the Trump administration (and they still are). They also acknowledged that her slip-up nowhere near rises to the level of the Trump administration's ethics violations.

CREW acknowledged that Psaki's potential violation "is nowhere near as extreme as those of her predecessors."

"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," CREW President Noah Bookbinder told CNN in a statement Friday. "The Biden administration should not follow the Trump administration down that path."

Psaki responded to CREW's complaint in an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper on "The Lead" on Friday, saying, "I take ethics seriously. So does the President, of course."

"As I understand it, if I had said 'he' instead of 'we,' that would not have been an issue at all, and I'll be more careful with my words next time," Psaki said. "Words certainly matter."

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/10/15/politics/hatch-act-jen-psaki/index.html

Link to tweet

I don't get why people are all

[Mr.Bill]

23. Would it have been okay if

she was holding up a can of Goya beans when she said it?

This is nothing compared to how the Trump gang abused the office for political and financial gain.