House OKs Conway subpoena

WASHINGTON -- The House Oversight Committee on Wednesday approved a subpoena to force White House counselor Kellyanne Conway to appear before the panel as it looks into allegations she repeatedly violated a federal law limiting political activity by government workers.

Conway did not show up at a hearing Wednesday, after the White House said Monday it would not allow her to appear. The Democratic-led panel voted 25-16 to issue a subpoena.

Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., the panel's chairman, said Conway's actions were a clear-cut violation of the law and President Donald Trump should fire her.

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel, which is unrelated to special counsel Robert Mueller's office, said earlier this month Conway has been a "repeat offender" of the federal Hatch Act by disparaging Democratic presidential candidates while speaking in her official capacity during television interviews and on social media.

Federal law prohibits executive branch employees from using their official authority or influence to affect the result of an election. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are exempt from the Hatch Act, but there are no exceptions for White House employees.

Republicans said Democrats were trying to curb Conway's free speech.

Conway, a frequent presence on radio and TV, is being "targeted because she is good at what she does," said Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, the panel's senior Republican.

Conway "does her job so well. That's why we're here," Jordan added, noting senior advisers to former President Barack Obama also frequently appeared on TV and offered opinions on political matters.

"What we have here is a political spectacle," said Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C. "We are better than this."

Cummings responded Republicans had "gotten to the point, sadly, where breaking the law is OK."

"It is not breaking the law," Meadows shot back.

Instead of focusing on issues that matter to Americans, Democrats "want to focus on Kellyanne's tweets," Jordan said.