Libertarian Congressman Justin Amash (R-MI) broke with his party again in voting with Democrats in favor of subpoenaing President Trump’s counselor Kellyanne Conway.
The Democratic-led House Oversight Committee approved the subpoena earlier today, claiming the public deserves to hear Conway’s responses to allegations that she repeatedly violated the Hatch Act.
The Hatch Act bars federal officials from using their position to influence elections.
Republicans on the panel voted to oppose the subpoena, arguing that Democrats are frustrated because Conway is an effective surrogate for the president.
Members like Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) contended that former Obama administration officials engaged in political speech during their tenures.
“This is one more example of the Democrats’ obsession with going after this president,” said Trump ally and Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH).
The argument didn’t persuade Amash. (The Hill)
“With respect to the vote, the point is not whether she is violating the Hatch Act or not, it is whether she should comply with the subpoena,” Amash told reporters leaving the committee room.
“But we should have brought her in and had an opportunity to ask her about the Hatch Act and to make her case for why she thinks she is complying with it,” he added.
Earlier this month, the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) sent a report to President Trump that said Conway repeatedly violated the Hatch Act by discussing Democratic presidential candidates while appearing as a White House official for television interviews.
And when Democrats sought to hear from the top staffer, the White House intervened, blocking Conway from appearing for public testimony on Wednesday and citing a “long-standing precedent” in which presidential administrations decline requests to have presidential advisers give congressional testimony.
Amash recently doubled down on his claim that Congress should impeach Trump after reading the Mueller Report.
AAN Staff
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