WASHINGTON, D.C. — Democracy Defenders Fund (DDF) filed a formal complaint today urging the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) to investigate whether White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt violated federal law by using her official position to launch a partisan attack against New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani.

During an Oct. 16 interview with America Reports, conducted from the White House grounds, Leavitt—speaking in her official capacity—responded to a question about Mamdani by making inflammatory remarks about the Democratic Party, falsely claiming it is “made up of Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens, and violent criminals.” She contrasted that with the Republican Party and the Trump Administration, which she described as “standing up for law-abiding Americans.”

DDF’s complaint outlines how Leavitt’s remarks appear to constitute prohibited political activity under the Hatch Act, which bars federal employees from using their official authority to influence or interfere with elections.

“This administration and its political appointees continually blur the line between public service and partisanship, public service and fealty to President Trump,” said Virginia Canter, chief counsel and director of ethics and anti-corruption at Democracy Defenders Fund. “Federal employees, including the White House press secretary, cannot use their official platforms for electioneering. The Hatch Act exists for this exact reason.”

Leavitt’s remarks came less than three weeks before New York City voters head to the polls in the mayoral election, where Mamdani is a leading progressive candidate. Her comments appear designed to sway public opinion and damage Mamdani’s candidacy—a clear red flag under the Hatch Act.

Leavitt’s conduct is not an isolated incident but part of a broader and deeply concerning pattern. Just three months ago, New Jersey Attorney General Alina Habba appeared to use her official position to promote Republican candidates during an interview conducted from the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. In that appearance, Habba discussed “turning New Jersey red” and urged voters to support the president’s policies by electing Republicans, again blurring the boundary between governance and campaign activity.“No administration should treat the federal government like an arm of their political campaign,” Canter stated.

Christopher Swartz, senior ethics counsel at DDF, added, “Democracy depends on free and fair elections, shielded from inappropriate partisan interference by federal officials. By leveraging her government role to target a candidate in a local election, Ms. Leavitt undermined that core principle.”

Read the full complaint HERE

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Democracy Defenders Fund brings together a nonpartisan team to work with national, state, and local allies across the country to defend in real-time the foundations of our democracy.