Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY

A4 U.S. NEWS
Friday 14 June 2019

Federal agency recommends

White House aide Conway be fired

By KEVIN FREKING and a letter to Trump that Con- agency’s decision “un-
DARLENE SUPERVILLE way has been a “repeat precedented” and “deep-
Associated Press offender” of the Hatch Act ly flawed” and said it violat-
WASHINGTON (AP) — A by disparaging Democrat- ed Conway’s constitutional
federal watchdog agen- ic presidential candidates rights to free speech and
cy recommended Thurs- while speaking in her offi- due process.
day that President Donald cial capacity during televi- “Its decisions seem to be
Trump fire one of his most sion interviews and on so- influenced by media pres-
ardent defenders, counsel- cial media. sure and liberal organiza-
or Kellyanne Conway , for Federal law prohibits em- tions — and perhaps OSC
repeatedly violating a law ployees of the executive should be mindful of its own
that limits political activity branch from using their of- mandate to act in a fair, im-
White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, left, and Hawaii by government workers. ficial authority or influence partial, non-political man-
Gov. David Ige listen as President Donald Trump speaks during a The U.S. Office of Special to affect the result of an ner, and not misinterpret or
meeting with governors on “workforce freedom and mobility” in Counsel, which is unrelat- election. Trump and Vice weaponize the Hatch Act,”
the Cabinet Room of the White House, Thursday, June 13, 2019,
in Washington. ed to special counsel Rob- President Mike Pence are Groves said in a statement.
Associated Press ert Mueller’s office, said in exempt from the Hatch A summary of the investi-
Act, but there are no ex- gation into Conway stated
ceptions for White House that beginning in Febru-
employees. ary, Conway engaged in a
The agency does not have pattern of partisan attacks
the authority to fire Con- on Democratic presiden-
way, who was appointed tial candidates. She called
by Trump, so it would be Sen. Cory Booker of New
up to the president to fol- Jersey “sexist” and a “tin-
low its recommendation ny” motivational speaker.
and dismiss one of his most In another interview, she
unwavering defenders. The accused Sen. Elizabeth
recommendation to fire Warren of Massachusetts
Conway is the first time the of “lying” about her eth-
watchdog office has rec- nicity and “appropriating
ommended the removal of somebody else’s heritage.”
a White House official over And she attacked former
Hatch Act violations. U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke of
Special Counsel Henry Texas for not thinking the
Kerner’s letter to Trump women running “are good
states: “Ms. Conway’s vio- enough to be president.” It
lations, if left unpunished, also cited her description of
send a message to all fed- former Vice President Joe
eral employees that they Biden as lacking “vision.”
need not abide by the The summary also noted
Hatch Act’s restrictions. Her that she used her Twitter
actions erode the principal account to conduct po-
foundation of our demo- litical activity. For example,
cratic system — the rule of she retweeted a March 31
law.” message that referred to
Conway told reporters who Biden as “Creepy Uncle
encountered her in the Joe” and “took it upon her-
White House press office, “I self to outline other faults
have no reaction.” she found in Mr. Biden’s
White House spokesman candidacy,” the report
Steven Groves called the said.q