How Biden’s reelection campaign could allow White House to dodge more questions
The Hatch Act: What You Need to Know
The Hatch Act is drawing renewed attention now that President Joe Biden is officially running for reelection. The act prohibits government employees from engaging in overt political campaigning and has tripped up many previous administrations. But the Biden White House may be the first to face accusations of using it too much.
White House Press Secretary Addresses Hatch Act Concerns
BIDEN LOOKS TO DEFY ABYSMAL POLLING IN 2024 REELECTION BID
“This is an administration and a president that believes in the rule of law,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the day Biden announced his reelection bid. “You’ve heard me over the past couple of weeks and months, probably painfully so, trying to make sure that we respect the rule of law and not to break the Hatch Act.”
Reporters Frustrated by Hatch Act Confusion
For reporters covering the administration, it has indeed been painful at times. On April 21, there were three different exchanges where the act was mentioned. The press corps has been frustrated by the act plenty of times before, but the confusion has ramped up now that the White House is starting to peel off staff to fulfill campaign duties.
Former White House Chief Ethics Lawyer Weighs In
The key distinction, argues former White House chief ethics lawyer Richard Painter, is whether Jean-Pierre is talking about a current candidate for president. “If she wants to talk about the Trump administration having a different policy, that’s fine,” said Painter, who served in the George W. Bush White House. “She can refer to the Trump administration in the past and talk about Republicans, although calling them MAGA Republicans is a bit excessive.”
Comparison to Previous Administration
Still, some ethics experts compare Biden’s approach favorably with that of his predecessor. A 2021 report from the U.S. Office of Special Counsel alleged that 13 separate members of the Trump administration violated the act by campaigning on Trump’s behalf. Trump-era counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway may be the most infamous violator, saying that the Hatch Act would not “silence me” and adding, “Let me know when the jail sentence starts.”
Conclusion
While the Biden team has been notoriously slow in reporting and reacting to news events, some argue that sometimes less is more. “Admittedly, the White House has not always been as forthcoming as it should be,” said Walter Shaub of the Project On Government Oversight, “but I really do not want to see a White House spokesperson criticizing the candidacy of Donald Trump or any other candidate.”
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