'I'm in charge of the Hatch Act': Trump lashes out at chief of staff over potential ethics violation

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-hatch-act-mick-mulvaney-ethics-ivanka-kellyanne-conway-a9166876.html

Donald Trump reportedly told a room of his top aides that he is in charge of the Hatch Act, when warned by his chief of staff that bringing his cabinet members to a campaign rally could violate ethics rules.

The comment, reported in a new Wall Street Journal article, illustrates the degree to which Mr Trump believes his administration does not have to worry about the rule, which was passed a century ago with the intention of warding off political activity by government employees.

The meeting in question occurred in June, a month in which at least two prominent officials in Mr Trump’s administration had been cited for potential violations the law.

Those two were White House counsellor Kellyanne Conway, and White House senior adviser Ivanka Trump — the president’s adult daughter — should be punished for violating the law, which barres government employees to advocate for the election or defeat of a partisan political candidate.

“I’m in charge of the Hatch Act,” Mr Trump reportedly snapped at chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, when he was told that bringing his Cabinet to the rally could raise issues.

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