White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki elicited demands for an investigation from Citizens for Responsibility & Ethics.
The group, which The New York Times has called a liberal watchdog group, has concerns that Psaki violated the Hatch Act when she said President Joe Biden wants Terry McAuliffe to win the governor’s race in Virginia.
The Hatch Act says employees should be encouraged to “exercise fully, freely and without fear of penalty or reprisal” their right to participate or refrain from participating in the political process. But, in an effort to “protect the integrity of the civil service system,” it limits political activity by federal executive branch employees.
Psaki said the White House would do “everything we can” to help McAuliffe. She added it believes in the “agenda” he’s representing.
This is not the first time CREW has had concerns. Earlier this year it sent a similar letter to White House Counsel regarding Psaki’s tweet that Biden “clearly opposes” efforts to recall California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Psaki told CNN’s Jake Tapper that she and Biden “take ethics seriously.”
“As I understand it, if I had said he, instead of we, that would not have been an issue at all. And I will be more careful with my words next time,” she said.
