Toxic workplace, plagiarism, border crisis: 5 Kamala Harris controversies since 2020

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Thursday, August 15, 2024

Staff complaints

Cubicles in a now-defunct co-working space in Portland, Oregon. | Creative Commons via Cubespace/Asa Wilson)

Harris has faced multiple allegations that her office has a hostile work environment for subordinates, with several figures departing her office within the first 18 months of her time as vice president.

In June 2021, Politico published a report based on interviews with 22 "current and former vice presidential aides, administration officials and associates of Harris and Biden" who labeled it "a tense and at times dour office atmosphere."

"While much of the ire is aimed at Harris' chief, two administration officials said the VP herself also bears responsibility for the way her office is run," noted Politico, which quoted an anonymous source as saying it is "not a healthy environment and people often feel mistreated."

Author Chris Whipple wrote in a book published in January 2023 that claimed Harris engaged in "really unnecessary gamesmanship" with her staff, with one source arguing that it reflected "deep, deep insecurity."

"When somebody raises an issue about Kamala, everybody's like, you don't want to see black women succeed. That's completely backward. Everybody who goes to work for Kamala, by definition, wants to see her succeed. That's why you take these jobs," claimed another source.