US Office of Special Counsel recommends removal of Kellyanne Conway News
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US Office of Special Counsel recommends removal of Kellyanne Conway

The US Office of Special Counsel (OSC) on Thursday issued an investigative report detailing repeated violations of the Hatch Act by counselor to the president, Kellyanne Conway.

The Hatch Act prohibits federal employees from using their official status to interfere with election results.

The OSC noted multiple violations of this Act in recent media appearances by Conway, where she appeared in her official capacity as counselor. During these appearances, Conway made statements advocating against Democratic Party candidates, violating the restriction against using political authority for partisan gain.

The report further warned that in the absence of punishment for these violations, a message is being sent that federal employees can disregard the Hatch Act’s restrictions.

Due to these ethics violations, the Special Counsel recommended Conway’s removal from federal service. Whether removal is executed ultimately depends on President Donald Trump’s discretion; violations of the Hatch Act carry no criminal penalties.

White House counsel Pat Cipollone responded to the OSC’s recommendation before the report was even released. In a letter, Cipollone claims OSC rushed its decision and made factual errors, and further explained that Conway’s constitutional rights were being infringed upon.

This is not the first time Conway has been cited for violating the Hatch Act. In March 2018 the OSC concluded that she “impermissibly mixed official government business with political views about candidates in the Alabama special election.” Conway continued to work as a member of Trump’s administration, and she is expected to continue to do so despite the OSC’s newest report.

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