White House chief of staff Mark MeadowsMark Randall MeadowsAirline CEOs plead with Washington as layoffs loom Trump reacts to Ginsburg’s death: ‘An amazing woman who led an amazing life’ Trump carries on with rally, unaware of Ginsburg’s death MORE defended Secretary of State Mike PompeoMichael (Mike) Richard PompeoUS reimposes UN sanctions on Iran amid increasing tensions Sunday shows preview: Justice Ginsburg dies, sparking partisan battle over vacancy before election Trump steps up Iran fight in final election stretch MORE’s decision to deliver a convention speech on an official trip, saying concerns about potential Hatch Act violations were overblown and that “nobody outside the Beltway really cares.”
“What it’s really designed to do is to make sure that people like myself and others do not use their political position to try to convince other employees, other federal employees that they need to vote one way, register one way or campaign another way. We have taken it well beyond the original intent of the Hatch Act,” Meadows said on Politico’s “Plug in with Playbook” Wednesday morning when asked about the controversy surrounding Pompeo’s speech at the Republican National Convention the evening prior.
“As he was there, he made it very clear he was talking in his personal capacity, used no federal assets to do that,” Meadows continued.
Meadows went on to argue that no one outside Washington, D.C., would devote attention to controversies about how Trump has pushed the boundaries of rules regarding the mix of governing and political activity during the 2020 convention.
“Nobody outside really cares,” Meadows said, referencing a passage in the Politico Playbook newsletter that doubted whether voters outside the Beltway would care about flouting of norms or Hatch Act violations with respect to the convention.
“They expect that Donald TrumpDonald John TrumpBiden leads Trump by 36 points nationally among Latinos: poll Trump dismisses climate change role in fires, says Newsom needs to manage forest better Jimmy Kimmel hits Trump for rallies while hosting Emmy Awards MORE is going to promote Republican values and they would expect Barack ObamaBarack Hussein ObamaDemocratic Senate campaign arm outraises GOP by M in August A federal court may have declared immigration arrests unconstitutional Blunt says vote on Trump court nominee different than 2016 because White House, Senate in ‘political agreement’ MORE when he was in office, that he would do the same for Democrats,” Meadows continued. “Listen, this is a lot of hoopla that’s being made about things mainly because the convention has been so unbelievably successful.”
The Hatch Act broadly prohibits federal employees, including White House staffers, from engaging in partisan political activity. The president and vice president are each exempt from the law.
Pompeo’s speech — filmed from Jerusalem during an official trip to the Middle East — was one of multiple elements of Tuesday’s program that blurred the lines between governing and partisan political activity. Secretaries of State and Defense traditionally avoid speeches during political conventions.
Trump also granted a pardon to a convicted bank robber and participated in a naturalization ceremony that featured Department of Homeland Security acting Secretary Chad WolfChad WolfSenate to hold nomination hearing for Wolf next week Hillicon Valley: FBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden | Treasury Dept. sanctions Iranian government-backed hackers Democrats slam DHS chief for defying subpoena for testimony on worldwide threats MORE at the White House in videos displayed at the convention. And first lady Melania TrumpMelania TrumpMelania Trump: Ginsburg’s ‘spirit will live on in all she has inspired’ The Hill’s 12:30 Report – Presented by Facebook – You might want to download TikTok now Warning label added to Trump tweet over potential mail-in…
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