Probe finds Trump advisers illegally campaigned while in office

Among the officials cited are former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, Jared Kushner, Kayleigh McEnany, Kellyanne Conway, Stephen Miller and Robert O'Brien

At least 13 former Trump administration officials violated the law by intermingling campaigning with their official government duties, according to a new federal investigation.

The report from the Office of Special Counsel released on Tuesday says the officials broke the law without consequence and with the admiration's approval as part of a "willful disregard for the Hatch Act," which prohibits government officials from using their official roles to influence elections, including supporting candidates while acting in their official capacities.

"The cumulative effect of these repeated and public violations was to undermine public confidence in the nonpartisan operation of government," they wrote, adding that, "such flagrant and unpunished violations erode the principal foundation of our democratic system — the rule of law." The office investigated officials' comments in the lead-up to the 2020 presidential election, including the Republican National Convention, which was held at the White House in a major break from historical norms.