My read of this is that POTUS is trying to get the Hatch Act ruled unconstitutional. So many Dems are running in 2020 in hopes that this law will prevent Barr from unsealing charges around that time. and it might.
There is nothing that KC has done that is not clearly protected by the 1st Amendment. But it also appears to be in violation of the Hatch Act. And it was an agency that Trump controls that called KC public statements a violation.
The Dems will fall for anything.