Ethics complaint filed against Psaki for ‘endorsing’ Terry McAuliffe

It was filed by the C.R.E.W. Watchdog (Citizens for Responsibility & Ethics in Washington). The group’s complaint pertains to the remarks made by Psaki during the Oct. 14 press conference at the White House.

When asked about McAuliffe, Psaki said, "We're going to do everything we can to help former Governor McAuliffe, and we believe in the agenda he's representing."

Pictured below is the full exchange between Psaki and the reporter:

The Hatch Act bars employees in the executive branch to use their authority and influence to interfere with the results of an election.

"The Biden administration should not follow the Trump administration down that path," CREW president Noah Bookbinder said when recalling incidents that happened during the former White House.

(Click here to read the official complaint filed to the Office of Special Counsel.)

A similar close call happened back during Governor Gavin Newsom's recall election in California, where Psaki remarked that Biden's campaign stop would "hopefully this will be helpful to the efforts of the governor."

Flashback to Biden's first days in office in January and Psaki said: "We certainly take the Hatch Act seriously, and we'll abide by that, and you will not see a political rally on the South Lawn of the White House under President Biden."

In a statement to Fox News, Psaki said she'd be more careful from now on: "While the president has publicly expressed his support for McAuliffe, we'll leave it to the press and the campaign to provide commentary on the race. I take ethics very seriously and will choose my words more carefully moving forward."