White House press secretary and top spokesman violated Hatch Act: Watchdog

A watchdog agency has informed the White House that press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and spokesman Andrew Bates violated the Hatch Act, giving Jean-Pierre her second warning letter this year over the use of the term “MAGA.”

The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) told Jean-Pierre and Bates in a letter in October, first obtained by NBC News, that criticizing “MAGA” Republicans when discussing the GOP budget plan earlier this year was a violation of their guidance on adhering to the Hatch Act.