Posted on 07/16/2019 8:18:11 AM PDT by jazusamo
UPDATE : Conway reacted to Rep. Cummings's threat to hold her in contempt during a Fox News interview on Tuesday.
"This is the latest example of harassment and embarrassment," she said.
She has every right to not show up to the House Oversight hearings because as a White House senior adviser she has the right to immunity. But, she's "happy to testify" because she's "done nothing wrong."
"This about me going on TV and stating facts," she insisted, referring to her statements about 2020 presidential candidates Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders. They are old, white career politicians, she noted.
ORIGINAL POST
Part Two of the House Oversight and Reform Committee's "Violations of the Hatch Act Under the Trump Administration" convened on Monday, and once again the star witness did not show. The White House told Chairman Elijah Cummings once before - and again just 25 minutes before Monday's meeting - that Counselor Kellyanne Conway had no obligation to attend their little charade.
Cummings responded with a threat. He said Conway must show up to testify, or they will vote to hold her in contempt during a "business meeting" on July 25.
"She has repeatedly and flagrantly" abused her office, Cummings alleged.
Conway is accused of violating the Hatch Act on a few different occasions. Once, when she appeared to weigh in on the 2017 Alabama special election. Another when she criticized the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates. The Office of Special Counsel charged her not only with a violation, but for mocking the rules as well.
"Let me know when the jail sentence starts," she glibly told the OSC in May.
In a formal letter in June, they told President Trump to fire her. Trump defended Conway and said he has no plans to let her go.
Cummings added on Monday that the White House has made things worse by "minimizing" the seriousness of the situation, and making it into "a light, offhand manner." Trump, the chairman said, is "sending a false message to other federal employees that they need not comply to the Hatch Act."
Cummings suggested they were not asking much of Conway. They are not requiring her to share any specific advice she gave the president. They just want her "to testify about her violations of federal law." But, according to him, they've given her enough chances.
Then Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) had his chance to speak. And he quickly made his point.
"This meeting is merely politics," Jordan said. "They targeted her because she’s effective."
#ICYMI : Watch @Jim_Jordan 's opening statement from today's full committee hearing examining the Hatch Act.
It's no surprise that Ms. Conway decided to spend her afternoon doing her job on behalf of taxpayers rather than subjecting herself to classic D.C. political theater.
What's more, the OSC only gave Conway and the White House 16 hours to respond. Jordan repeated Conway’s supposed Hatch Act violations. For instance, noting that former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders are "two old, white career politicians," or that Sen. Elizabeth Warren was "lying about her ethnicity."
They are her honest opinions and she has “every right” to share them, Jordan said.
"I don’t think anyone’s surprised that Kellyanne decided to skip today’s hearing and do her job," he said in closing.
Rep. Cummings strikes me as someone just a little bit brighter than Hank Johnson, who is most famous for his questioning about the potential for Guam to capsize.
Strong white women make him nervous.
Yep, he’s a dim bulb and going all out after Kellyanne Conway on this issue proves it.
Cummings reminds me of an ex jock with noting left but a mouth and militancy. A post turtle.
If they take the bait arrest her, watch for a slew of Hatch violation indictments against Democrats being issued. A.G. Barr probably has them written up already.
Thanks jazusamo.
What ever happened to Elijah’s wife? Is she in jail yet?
Has she been charged yet?
Has a grand jury been convened yet?
Has her trial been held yet?
Haven’t seen a word printed about it, if Elijah was a conservative you can bet the media would be obsessed with it.
Support Free Republic Folks, Donate Today!
I love it. :^)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
