House Panel Not OK With Kellyanne Conway's No-Show

Kellyanne Conway didn't appear before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday—and so that same committee voted to subpoena her testimony. It's looking into allegations that she repeatedly violated the Hatch Act, a federal law that bars federal employees from engaging in politics while on the job. The Office of Special Counsel (which isn't affiliated with Robert Mueller) recommended she be fired as a "repeat offender" of the law. The president has said no such firing will occur, and White House counsel recommended she not appear Wednesday. GOP Rep. Justin Amash joined Democrats in voting 25-16 to subpoena her, reports CNN. Chairman Elijah Cummings says a contempt vote will take place if she does not comply.

The AP reports that Republicans have characterized Democrats as trying to curtail Conway's free speech. Cummings had a response: "This is not a conspiracy to silence her or restrict her First Amendment rights. This is an effort to enforce federal law." The Washington Post reports the Trump administration maintains it's simply adhering to a practice observed by both parties in which current West Wing officials don't appear before Congress; Democrats counter that what it wants to discuss with Conway involves her personal activities, not those related to her role as White House counselor. (More Kellyanne Conway stories.)