The Washington Post reported that a former staffer said that aides in Harris' office had to endure a constant amount of soul-destroying criticism.
After last week's announcement that Harris' chief spokesman would soon depart her role, along with the expected exits of Peter Velz, the director of press operations, and Vince Evans, the deputy director of the Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs, there was a flurry of activity.
The chatter about Harris' office has spilled into larger view, threatening to chip away at Democratic confidence when the vice president is faced with tackling some of the Biden administration's most challenging issues, including immigration and voting rights.
Several former staffers told The Post that they had concerns about Harris years ago. Harris' office didn't reply to Insider's request for comment.
Harris' refusal to analyze the materials set forth by employees resulted in her scolding them if she appeared to be unprepared, according to The Post.
One former staffer told the newspaper that they were not working with someone who was willing to do the work. You have to put up with a constant amount of soul-destroying criticism and her own lack of confidence. It's not clear why you're always supporting a bully.
The turnover in the vice president's office points to the fact that Gil Duran left her office after five months, when she was California's Attorney General.
He told the newspaper that one of the things they had said in their text groups was that it was her.
"Who are the next talented people you're going to bring in and burn through, and then have them pretend they're retiring for positive reasons?" he asked.
In a recent column, the editorial page editor for The San Francisco Examiner wrote that it was sad to see her repeat the same destructive patterns.
Harris allies see the criticism as a consequence of her profile as the first female, first Black, and first Indian American to hold the vice presidency, as well as her future as a potential Democratic standard-bearer. There is a heavy dose of sexism mixed in with some of the public reports about her office.
Harris had a firm disposition, but was not abusive according to Sean Clegg, a partner at political consulting firm Bearstar Strategies.
He told The Post that Harris put him in a similar position as Jeff Sessions, who was questioned over Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election.
He told The Post that he never felt like Harris treated him in an unreasonable way.
People personalize things. He said that he had never had an experience where he felt like she was unfair.
Has she called bulls? Yes. Does that make people uncomfortable? Yes. She would have a TV show called "The Apprentice" if she were a man with her management style.
Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said that it was normal for departures a year or so into an administration.
"If you look at past precedent, it's natural for staffers who have thrown their heart and soul into a job to be ready to move on to a new challenge after a few years," she said.
That is applicable to many of these individuals. It's an opportunity to bring in new faces, new voices and new perspectives, as it is in any White House.
