The Biden White House was cited for Hatch Act violations when they used the phrase "MAGA Republicans" to denounce the GOP's agenda during the 2022 midterms. A formal warning letter was issued to the White House, specifically Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. They won't change course on the talking point based on a memo obtained by Axios. They will continue to use the phrase, consequences be damned.
And by that, I mean there won't be any because you can't enforce this protocol:
SCOOP: The White House will continue to use the term "MAGA" a week after the White House's Office of Special Counsel (OSC) declared that doing so is a violation of the Hatch Act, according to a a new memo obtained by Axios. https://t.co/BfgUdNj9CJ
— Axios (@axios) June 14, 2023
The White House will continue to use the term "MAGA" a week after the independent Office of Special Counsel (OSC) declared that doing so is a violation of the Hatch Act, according to a new memo obtained by Axios.
Why it matters: Since last year, White House officials have repeatedly labeled GOP members in Congress as "MAGA Republicans" as part of a larger strategy to cast them as out of touch and extreme.
State of play: On June 7, in response to a watchdog complaint about press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre's use of "MAGA Republicans," the OSC ruled that she violated the Hatch Act, which governs how federal employees can weigh in on political activities.
On the same day, the OSC sent guidance to agencies which stated that "MAGA" was off-limits because it was too closely connected with former President Trump's campaign for the White House.
[…]
The big picture: The Hatch Act is widely viewed as unenforceable. At least 13 Trump administration officials violated the Hatch Act during the former president's term, including when the 2020 Republican National Convention was held in large part on White House grounds.
KJP: “Mega MAGA Republicans do not believe in the rule of law. They refuse to accept the results of elections and they fan the flames of political violence." pic.twitter.com/W4Pw4gUhI4
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) November 2, 2022
These violations are inside baseball material. Only those inside the Beltway know or will waste their time dwelling on the consequences of which there are none. Not that would stop Democrats anyway. For now, the crumbling economy is a top concern, along with the shakiness in the banking system and the looming real estate bubble that's about to burst as property values plummet and more companies undertake strategic foreclosures. We're also still saddled with an inflation crisis. These issues are far more serious than Karine Grey Poupon spewing nonsense about the Republican Party.
