The Hatch Act is an 80-year-old anti-corruption law that bars civilian executive branch employees from using their official positions and authority to influence elections.

But when it comes to complying with the Hatch Act, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway Kellyanne Elizabeth ConwaySpecial counsel investigating DeVos for potential Hatch Act violation: report George and Kellyanne Conway honor Ginsburg Trump carries on with rally, unaware of Ginsburg's death MORE’s attitude amounts to: Whatever I can get away with I will — and I can get away with anything. Some would argue that, in fact, this attitude only reflects President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE’s reelection campaign strategy.

If so, Conway’s lawless conduct is just a taste of what we can expect in 2020. Not to mention, Trump’s willingness to accept foreign assistance in his re-election campaign without informing the FBI, which he has since partly backed away from.

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The U.S. Office of Special Counsel, which is unrelated to Special Counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE, investigates Hatch Act violations. Last week, an obviously fed-up OSC issued a blistering report on Conway.

Appreciate that the OSC is not headed by an Obama-era holdover. It’s run by Henry J. Kerner, a Trump appointee and former prosecutor with sterling conservative Republican credentials. Kerner had previously worked for the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee under Rep. Darrell Issa Darrell Edward IssaDCCC reserves new ad buys in competitive districts, adds new members to 'Red to Blue' program Wife of former Rep. Duncan Hunter sentenced to 8 months of home confinement Harris endorses Democrat in tight California House race MORE (R-Calif.) and he is an alumnus of the conservative Federalist Society.

According to the report, Conway is a “repeat” Hatch Act violator who has “used her official authority to advocate for or against declared candidates for partisan political office.” The report found that Conway is incorrigible and unrepentant. She “willfully and openly disregarded the law in full public view . . . And she made it clear that she has no plans to cease abusing her official position to influence voters.” As one example, the OSC cited Conway’s contemptuous response to criticism of her conduct: “Let me know when the jail sentence starts.”

Conway’s conduct was so egregious that she made Hatch Act history. “Never has OSC had to issue multiple reports to the President concerning Hatch act violations by the same individual.” Kerner personally recommended that Trump fire her. “Her actions erode the principal foundations of our democratic system--the rule of law.”

The White House flatly rejected his recommendation. White House lawyer Pat A. Cipolone argued that Conway was only criticizing the “policy proposals” of Democratic candidates.

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As the proverb goes, you can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig. The OSC cited numerous examples of Conway’s partisan political attacks in her official media appearances as counselor the president or at the White House. None had the faintest resemblance to “policy” criticism.

On Feb. 11, 2019, Conway appeared on “Fox & Friends,” where she was introduced by her official title. She claimed that Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenHillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns On The Money: Anxious Democrats push for vote on COVID-19 aid | Pelosi, Mnuchin ready to restart talks | Weekly jobless claims increase | Senate treads close to shutdown deadline Democratic senators ask inspector general to investigate IRS use of location tracking service MORE (D-Mass.) “spent decades, folks, decades appropriating somebody else’s heritage and ethnicity” and “she’s been lying about it.”

On the same program, Conway said of Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand Kirsten GillibrandSunday shows preview: Justice Ginsburg dies, sparking partisan battle over vacancy before election Suburban moms are going to decide the 2020 election Jon Stewart urges Congress to help veterans exposed to burn pits MORE (D-N.Y.), “This weekend in her fifties, apparently was the first time she’s ever eaten fried chicken, and she waited for the cameras to roll. I mean this is just silly stuff.”

In an interview on April 30, 2019 in the White House driveway Conway called former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenPelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Hillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns Fox News poll: Biden ahead of Trump in Nevada, Pennsylvania and Ohio MORE and Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersThe Hill's Campaign Report: Trump faces backlash after not committing to peaceful transition of power Bernie Sanders: 'This is an election between Donald Trump and democracy' The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump stokes fears over November election outcome MORE (I-Vt.) “two old white straight men career politicians” and claimed that their polling leads proved that the Democratic primary electorate is “sexist” and “racist.” I could go on.

Perhaps Conway and the White House are betting that the American public secretly cheers for colorful outlaws. But this isn’t about butter-on-your-popcorn entertainment. It’s about Trump’s constitutional obligation to “take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed.”

Conway and the White House are telling us that the president is running for reelection and the American constitution and the rule of law had better get out of the way.

Gregory J. Wallance was a federal prosecutor during the Carter and Reagan administrations. He is the author most recently of “The Woman Who Fought An Empire: Sarah Aaronsohn and Her Nili Spy Ring.” Follow him on Twitter at @gregorywallance.