The Office of Special Counsel is going after a top Trump aide.  The Washington Examiner reports: 

“The U.S. Office of Special Counsel determined White House counselor Kellyanne Conway violated the Hatch Act during two television interviews during which she discussed why voters should support Republican Roy Moore over Democrat Doug Jones in the Alabama special Senate election. The office announced Tuesday it sent an investigative report to President Trump detailing its findings. Special counsel Henry Kerner said in a letter to the president he is referring Conway’s Hatch Act violations to him for ‘consideration of appropriate disciplinary action.’

Conway’s first violation occurred during a Nov. 20 interview on Fox News’ ‘Fox and Friends,’ during which she urged Alabama voters not to support Jones in the upcoming special election and ‘gave an implied endorsement’ of Moore. . .The second violation occurred Dec. 6. Then, in an interview with CNN’s ‘New Day,’ Conway talked about why voters should back Moore instead of Jones. Conway appeared on both networks in her official capacity as White House counselor… The Hatch Act prohibits government employees from using their official positions to campaign for or against political candidates.”

Given that the Office is focused on Trump administration officals because he is in power, it is interesting that this charge was rarely leveled at officials in previous administrations. The White House fired back, saying Conway’s job description includes “commentary” on Trump’s thinking, and that this was a unique situation. Violations of the Hatch Act can be punished with firing, suspension and up to a $1,000 fine. 

Correction: An earlier version of the article misidentified the Office of the Special Counsel as the Special Counsel’s Office, led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.