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White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre clarified President Joe Biden’s intentions for re-election following a comment she made that caused confusion.
After President Biden formally launched his campaign for a second term in office, Jean-Pierre refused to confirm whether he planned to serve the entire term, stating, “That’s something for him to decide,” during a briefing. At 80 years old, President Biden is the most senior president in US history.
Jean-Pierre later clarified on Twitter that President Biden would serve a full eight-year term if re-elected, stating, “I can confirm that if re-elected, POTUS would serve all eight years.” She explained that her initial reluctance to answer the reporter’s question was because of compliance with the Hatch Act, a US federal election law prohibiting executive branch employees from using their position to campaign for a candidate while performing official duties.
Jean-Pierre has been known to refer to the Hatch Act in her interactions with reporters, which has been criticized for its broad interpretation. In recent polling, most Americans complained about President Biden’s age and another term, given that he would be 86 years at the end of a second term. The White House Office of Special Counsel previously called for firing officials who fail to comply with the Hatch Act, citing its importance in upholding the rule of law in the democratic system.
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Source: Omanghana.com
