Trump Won’t Fire Kellyanne Conway, Disagrees “Entirely” With Fed Chair Powell

President Trump said on Friday that he wouldn’t fire senior aide Kellyanne Conway after a watchdog found she violated a federal law prohibiting political speech in her official capacity.

“No, I’m not going to fire her. I think she’s a terrific person,” Trump told Fox News, adding “I got briefed on it yesterday and it looks to me like they’re trying to take away their right of free speech. And that’s just not fair.”

“She’s got to have the right of responding to questions.”

On Thursday, Special Counsel Henry Kerner (no relation to Mueller’s office) said in a letter that his office had never before found such repeated violations by former presidential aides, and recommended that Trump fire Conway, who erred by “disparaging Democratic presidential candidates while speaking in her official capacity during television interviews and on social media.”

Federal judge blocks Alabama redistricting plan in blow to Trump

Markwayne Mullin goes off on Dems’ ‘garbage’ Memorial Day ‘political stunt’ at ICE facility

Alex Murdaugh trial clerk reemerges after explosive ruling upends murder conviction

Chicago sees at least 25 shot over Memorial Day weekend as police cancel officers’ days off

Sports Commentator Blasts Giants QB for Meeting Trump Without ‘Consulting’ Locker Room

Iran Claims to Have Shot Down a US Drone, Threatens Further Retaliation

Trump will head to Walter Reed for his annual physical

Hasan Piker names pro-CCP tycoon Singham as financier of ‘political movements’ despite nonprofit veneer

Massie positions himself for potential political future after primary defeat: ‘I won’t be going away silently’

Trump-backed candidates score major boost from deep-pocketed AI Super PAC in upcoming primaries

How AIPAC’s spending strategy evolved, to the dread of anti-Israel Democrats and Republican detractors

Tulsi Gabbard honors wish of Gold Star wife to visit husband’s grave at Arlington National Cemetery

Trump flexes MAGA muscle in Texas Senate runoff clash between Cornyn and Paxton

Skydiver dies after midair collision with another jumper during group jump in Washington state

Dog accidentally fires shotgun, striking woman yards away during chaotic gas station stop

“Ms. Conway’s violations, if left unpunished, would send a message to all federal employees that they need not abide by the Hatch Act’s restrictions. Her actions thus erode the principal foundation of our democratic system — the rule of law,” reads the letter.

“If Ms. Conway were any other federal employee, her multiple violations of the law would almost certainly result in her removal from her federal position,” Kerner added. “Never has (the office) had to issue multiple reports to the President concerning Hatch Act violations by the same individual.”

“given that Ms. Conway is a repeat offender and has shown disregard for the law, (the office) recommends that she be removed from federal service,” reads a separate statement from the Office of the Special Counsel alongside the report.

As CNN notes, White House counsel Pat Cipollone pushed back against the report, writing that the special counsel’s office did not give the White House or Conway time to respond to the report, and that her social media statements and media interviews did not constitute violations of the Hatch Act.