Federal watchdog agency tells Trump to fire Kellyanne Conway over ‘numerous’ and ‘unacceptable’ violations of U.S. law

Jun. 13--Alternative facts might not get Kellyanne Conway out of this mess.

One of the federal government's top watchdog agencies told President Trump on Thursday to fire Conway over her "numerous" violations of the Hatch Act, a longstanding federal law barring most White House officials from spouting partisan talking points.

The extraordinary recommendation, issued directly to Trump in a blistering letter from the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, rips Conway as a "repeat offender" who continuously uses her official role as the president's counselor to disparage Democratic 2020 candidates in interviews and on social media.

"Ms. Conway's disregard for the restrictions the Hatch Act places on executive branch employees is unacceptable," special counsel Henry Kerner wrote in the letter. "As a highly visible member of the administration, Ms. Conway's violations, if left unpunished, would send a message to all federal employees that they need not abide by the Hatch Act's restrictions. Her actions thus erode the principal foundation of our democratic system -- the rule of law."

Kerner, whose position is entirely separate and should not be confused with special counsel Robert Mueller, said his office thereby "respectfully requests" that Trump hold Conway to the "same standards as all other federal employees" and boot her from government service "immediately."

Conway -- who has served as one of Trump's most trusted advisers since the 2016 campaign -- dodged questions from reporters at the White House, but a spokesman for the president claimed Kerner's recommendation was politically motivated and "deeply flawed."

"Others, of all political views, have objected to the OSC's unclear and unevenly applied rules which have a chilling effect on free speech for all federal employees," deputy press secretary Steven Groves said. "Its decisions seem to be influenced by media pressure and liberal organizations -- and perhaps OSC should be mindful of its own mandate to act in a fair, impartial, non-political manner, and not misinterpret or weaponize the Hatch Act."

Despite Groves's statement, Kerner was appointed by Trump to his current position and, before becoming special counsel, Kerner worked at conservative think tank Cause of Action.

The Hatch Act prohibits federal employees from using their official positions to engage in overtly partisan speech. Presidents and vice presidents are exempt from the restrictions.

Conway, 52, has defended Trump in extreme ways, including infamously saying in a January 2017 interview that then-White House press secretary Sean Spicer was relying on "alternative facts" in falsely claiming Trump's inauguration had the largest crowd in history.

OSC first warned Conway in a March 6, 2018 report that she had twice violated the Hatch Act by stumping for failed Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore in television interviews.

But Conway refused to correct her behavior despite the slap on the wrist, according to Kerner.

In an investigative report appended to the letter to Trump, OSC found Conway has since at least Feb. 1 belittled or attacked Democratic presidential candidates repeatedly in social media posts and interviews, including New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke and Vice President Joe Biden.

OSC also stressed in the letter to Trump that Conway downplayed the significance of the Hatch Act in a May 29 media interview, signaling she's aware of the law but doesn't take it seriously and should thereby be punished.

"If you're trying to silence me through the Hatch Act, it's not going to work," Conway said in the interview, according to OSC, adding, "Let me know when the jail sentence starts."

House Oversight Chairman Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) announced a June 26 hearing in response to the OSC's conclusion and called on Conway to appear so she can "answer for her violations."

It was not immediately clear if Conway plans to comply with Cummings's request.

The OSC concluded its report to Trump by stressing that Conway's "persistent, notorious and deliberate Hatch Act violations" has stained the integrity of the White House.

"Ms. Conway's conduct undermines public confidence in the Executive branch and compromises the civil service system that the Hatch Act was intended to protect," the report states. "Her knowing and blatant disregard for the law aggravates the severity of her numerous violations."

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