No Doubt Kellyanne Conway Violated Ethics Law, Watchdog Head Says

WASHINGTON, DC — The case that White House advisor Kellyanne Conway violated a federal ethics law by railing against Democratic Senate candidate Doug Jones on Fox News is "airtight," the former director of the Office of Government Ethics wrote Tuesday.

Walter Shaub, who was initially appointed to the OGE by President Obama, wrote in a Washington Post op-ed that a case against Conway for violating the Hatch Act is a “slam dunk.” The act bars federal employees from influencing U.S. elections. Shaub also urged the public to watch what actions Henry Kerner, the current head of the Office of Special Counsel, which investigates Hatch Act violations, takes against Conway.

Shaub says Conway violated the ethics law when she appeared on the Fox News show “Fox and Friends” last Monday and appeared to endorse Judge Roy Moore over Democrat Doug Jones in the Alabama special Senate election.

Conway attacked Jones during her appearance from in front of the White House, saying of the Democrat: “Folks, don’t be fooled. He’ll be a vote against tax cuts. He’s weak on crime, weak on borders. He’s strong on raising your taxes. He’s terrible for property owners.”

She added: “I’m telling you that we want the votes in the Senate to get this tax bill through.”

The Hatch Act states a federal employee like Conway may not, "use his official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election."

After her appearance, the Campaign Legal Center, a watchdog group where Shaub is the director, filed a complaint with the Office of the Special Counsel. The group viewed her appearance as an “obvious violation of the Hatch Act,” Shaub wrote in the Post.

But whether or not the OSC will seek to punish Conway is another question, Shaub wrote.

“The case against Conway is airtight. Or it would be, that is, if President Trump hadn’t appointed Kerner to lead the OSC,” Shaub wrote.

Shaub notes that Kerner is the former head of a conservative group who previously lobbied in Conway’s defense when she was accused of violating federal ethics rules by urging the public to “go buy Ivanka’s stuff.”

Kerner now has discretion to recommend a range of punishment for violating the Hatch Act, which include a $1,000 fine, suspension, temrination and debarment from federal employment for up to five years.

“We should all watch what Kerner does next,” Shaub wrote.

Photo Credit: AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma