It feels like a lifetime ago since Kayleigh McEnany first took the lectern in the White House press briefing room and declared “I will never lie to you. You have my word on that.” It’s hard to take her word on anything these days. It’s especially difficult when you don’t know who she is working for at any given time. Is it the American people, the current president, or the Trump campaign? Thursday, during an appearance on Fox News, McEnany was asked when president-elect Joe Biden will start receiving the presidential daily briefings. She replied, “That would be a question more for the White House.” Huh? She is the White House spokesperson. CNN’s Anderson Cooper called this “next level stuff.”
Business Insider writes, “By serving in both government and political roles simultaneously, McEnany has risked potential violations of the Hatch Act.”
The Hatch Act is a 1939 federal law that prohibits federal employees (excluding the president and vice president) from engaging in certain political activities, including campaigning, while on duty. The Trump administration has frequently been accused of violating the Hatch Act.
McEnany was questioned about all this later in the day on Fox and denied that she crossed the line.
But perhaps it is time to investigate McEnany (and others) for constantly blurring the lines. Salon quotes national security attorney Bradley Moss:
“She’s playing a delicate balancing act. In a normal administration, this would never be tolerated. With this one, we know they only care about the Hatch Act whenever it’s convenient.”
*This piece contains opinion and analysis
