Interviews with 22 former and current vice presidential aides, administration officers, and associates of Harris or Biden revealed a stressful and sometimes depressing office environment. Allies and aides said Flournoy created an environment that is closed-minded and where people are treated harshly or dismissed and where decisions are made. They claimed that Flournoy often refuses to accept responsibility for sensitive issues and blames staff for the negative consequences.Although Harris chief is the target of much of the criticism, two administration officials stated that the VP is also responsible for how her office is run. One of the administration officials said that it all begins at the top. He, like other people, requested anonymity so that he could speak openly about sensitive matters.According to another person who has direct knowledge of Harris office's management, people are often thrown under the bus. People often feel mistreated and it is not a healthy environment. This is not a place people feel supported, but it's a place people feel like s---.The dysfunction within the ranks of the VPs could cause problems for the White House's carefully constructed image as a place where close-knit professionals work together to advance President Obama's agenda. It is clear enough that the president's team has taken note and expressed concern about how Harris staffers were treated.Symone Sanders was senior advisor to Harris and chief spokesperson. She rebutted the accusations and said that Flournoy has an open-door policy.We don't make rainbows and bunnies every day. Sanders said that many people work hard and were welcome to join the club. We created a culture that allows people to ask for help if they have any questions. Anyone can raise anything they want.Flournoys and Harris' defenders point out that Black women in power are often subject to standards that men don't have to meet. One person may see a demanding and difficult office environment as a positive trait while another might view it as an indication of disorder and lack leadership skills.Harris is a familiar face to many, including those who know her best. She has been through several iterations with her staff and then took office with a new team.Six months into their tenure, some of the aides to the Office of Vice President stated that they are looking for other opportunities. Others have already left. Two top staffers in advance, Gabrielle DeFranceschi and Karly Satkowiak, have parted with Harris in recent days. They and Harris officials claimed that the departures were planned for a long time, something two people with knowledge of the matter disagree with.According to another source familiar with the matter DeFranceschi was fired because of a disagreement about how things should be run. This person said that Harris office is managed very differently from the Obama operation where DeFranceschi had previously worked. It can be frustrating to have your opinion on how things should work and not be heard.DeFranceschi didn't respond to our request for comment.Rajan Kaur (a third Harris aide) left after deciding not to move to Washington from Brooklyn.Anita Dunn was a senior advisor to the president and defended Flournoy's decision to keep the news about the border trip to a small number of people. She said that Harris office didn't want it to be leaked or turned into a spectacle.Dunn stated that the discussions were held closely and that there might have been some people whose feelings were hurt by Dunn's staff. It is not possible to suggest that the arrangement was improperly handled or kept secret from those who needed to be aware of it.Dunn was asked if she knew about the complaints regarding the VPs office. She replied that it wasn't anywhere near what you were describing.Flournoy, a Democratic operative for many years, worked on President Bill Clinton's White House campaign as well as Vice President Al Gores 2000 campaign. Flournoy is part of an informal group that includes Black women who have worked together in Democratic politics for decades, including Donna Brazile and Minyon Moore.Daughtry said that Tina is strong, intelligent and driven. She expects others to be strong, intelligent, and driven. Some people might find smart, strong, and driven people intimidating. But that's not Tina’s intention or style. Nothing in her life would make you believe that Tina is intimidating.Flournoy is well-respected by operatives outside that group. Many of the most prominent names in Democratic politics contacted Flournoy before this story was published to praise her. On Tuesday, others took to Twitter to criticize a CNBC report that Flournoys was acting as a gatekeeper for Harris. This was roiling outside allies who were being denied access to Harris.Their critique centered on the role of the chief of staff to protect their boss and ensure that only important matters are addressed.According to two people who know Flournoys tenure as President Bill Clintons chief of staff (the job she held before Harris hired Flournoy), Flournoy is known for refusing to delegate or second-guessing staff members.One person said that Tina cut off contact with Clinton's family members, who had known him for many decades. Clinton did not use email. She only used her BlackBerry to communicate with close friends, family and a few aides. This allowed her to keep many FOBs (friends of Bill) out.Although it is part of the chief of staff's job to restrict access to her bosses, the person said that you cannot ignore people and not get back.Interviews with POLITICO revealed that some of Harris' aides and allies worry that she is stepping back too much and letting her political apparatus deteriorate. Flournoy rejected Harris's suggestion of spending more time with her former relationships or using her new position to make new ones. This is a move that many in the VPs circle view as being shortsighted.A Harris friend reached out to Flournoy to set up a short meeting. They were ignored. According to the friend, it was not clear if Flournoy knew their identities. Harris office was also reached out by the donor to make contact, but they didn't respond for several weeks. Finally, they were informed that the VP was too busy to schedule any time.The Harris friend inquired if this is someone who has raised millions of dollars for their boss, and if they are just blaming them off. Kamala will next ask [them] to do something.Each vice president must balance being supportive and looking out for future opportunities. Harris' task is much more difficult. It is not yet clear if Biden will run for reelection in 2024, at which time she would be the party's logical standard-bearer. After working hard to earn the nomination, she felt a strong need to show her loyalty to Biden.Some outside allies have acknowledged Harris's efforts to avoid politicking, whether subtle or explicit, among Bidens team. However, many of her allies believe it is unreasonable and foolish not to support Harris' efforts to raise her profile, while every other Democrat with national ambitions is allowed the privilege to mingle with political friends and get to know donors.She has been in public life since she was 30 years old. F---. F---. Harris was not aware of the problems at her office, the person said.According to the person, she is the most perceptive person in the world. Although she might not be able to see the inside of things, it is hard to believe that she does not have an intuitive understanding of what's happening.Harris staff problems are not new. Harris staff struggles are nothing new, according to former Harris Senate aides.In a maze of leaks and finger-pointing, her presidential campaign collapsed. Harris resigned almost everyone from the campaign and returned to Senate in 2020 with her government staff, and a small outside operation. She was presented with a small staff consisting mostly of trusted, handpicked aides from Bidenworld when she was elected to the presidency. It was a great team. The team avoided internal backbiting.It has been quite a challenge to manage the pressure-packed VPs office.According to a former Senate aide who is in touch to current Harris staffers, the current Harris staffers' morale is low and is similar to her failed presidential campaign.That climate has been created in part by the portfolios Harris has agreed to work on. These include some of most difficult issues facing the Biden administration. Harris was assigned early to address the root causes for the migration of migrants southward. She was immediately the target of conservative criticism.Harris' aides maintained for weeks that Harris didn't need to be there immediately to demonstrate leadership on the issue. Instead, Harris flew to the countries from which the migrants originated and traveled through.There were many bumps on the trip to Guatemala and Mexico. Harris laughed at the idea of having to cross the border and said that she had never been to Europe. Harris's answer led to a series of stories featuring former staffers quoting her failings in impromptu moments. This frustrated Harris as well as her team members.Harris decided to make the El Paso trip after several weeks. Harris' team insisted it wasn't in response to her critics. However, other confidants and aides said that it was clear she was trying to move on from the coverage. This could have supported the right-wing misinformation campaign against herself.It was not a good sign that the border visit appeared hastily assembled. Harris held a news conference in which she struggled over the engine of a roaring airplane.Harris supporters argue that these moments are exaggerated. Few people, besides the politically obsessed, will recall the din of a conference or whether she crossed the border under duress or her own initiative.Sanders stated that Vice President Harris is focused solely on the work and not the conversation at the water cooler.People both inside and outside Harris' orbit are concerned that Harris is reducing frustration among staff members and improving office morale. This could be detrimental to her relationship with Biden. These people believe Harris excels when her team is calm and organized, which creates a sense of certainty and confidence.Harris said that if people feed her anxiety, it all goes away. This can lead to worsening of bad tendencies.This report was contributed by Theodoric Meyer.
