Violations of the Hatch Act Under the Trump Administration, Part II: Kellyanne Conway

CHAIRMAN CUMMINGS' OPENING STATEMENT

BACKGROUND

The Committee previously invited Ms. Conway to testify voluntarily at a hearing on June 26, 2019, entitled, “Violations of the Hatch Act Under the Trump Administration.”One purpose of that hearing was to obtain Ms. Conway’s response to a report issued by OSC finding that she repeatedly violated the Hatch Act.2 On June 24, 2019, the White House sent a letter to the Committee declining to make Ms. Conway available to testify.

When Ms. Conway did not appear at the hearing, the Committee debated and passed a resolution authorizing Chairman Elijah E. Cummings to subpoena Ms. Conway “for testimony in connection with Ms. Conway’s failure to comply with the Hatch Act and ethics laws.”4 Pursuant to this resolution, Chairman Cummings issued a subpoena commanding Ms. Conway to testify before the Committee at the present hearing on July 15, 2019. For further background, please see the enclosed memorandum sent to Committee members in advance of the hearing on June 26, 2019.

PURPOSE

The Committee has jurisdiction over the Hatch Act and has facilitated the enactment of several reforms in recent years. The hearing will examine OSC’s findings that Ms. Conway violated the Hatch Act, the agency’s recommendation that Ms. Conway be terminated, and Ms. Conway’s compliance with other federal ethics laws. Testimony from Ms. Conway will inform whether Congress should enact further reforms to the Hatch Act or other federal laws.