On CNBC on Thursday, former President Bill Clinton contradicted Vice President Kamala Harris’ staffers who “feel treated like s***’ and work in an “abusive environment.”
Those complaints were directed at Tina Flournoy, Harris’s chief of staff, who White House staffers say has a “reputation” for being “extreme,” for “refusing to delegate, and second-guessing other staffers.”
But when that embarrassing news broke, Clinton and others in the Democrat establishment circled the wagons to protect Harris — by defending Flournoy.
“Tina Flournoy ran my office for more than eight years, making it more efficient, effective, and transparent…” Clinton claimed. “She has a unique ability to focus on the big picture and adapt to changing conditions. And she does it all with a great sense of humor and an unwavering belief that we all have an ability and an obligation to make a difference. She’s an extraordinary person, and I’m so fortunate and forever grateful to have had her as my chief of staff.”
Clinton’s spokesman, Matt McKenna, who worked with Flournoy, also praised her for “helping create a much-needed structure for Clinton’s office.” The individual responsible for introducing Flournoy to Harris, Minyon Moore, who also worked in the White House during Clinton’s term, tweeted, “Tina Flournoy is focused, disciplined, & the person I would want by my side.”
The message to Harris’ staffers was clear: dissension in the ranks will not be tolerated.