WASHINGTON — Former aides to President Biden are furious that White House chief of staff Jeff Zaients dismissed allegations of bullying and verbal sexual harassment against Anthony Bernal, a close aide to first lady Jill Biden. Zaients declared the attack a “baseless attack” without investigating it.
Three sources exclusively told The Post that Mr. Bernal is considered one of the most powerful officials in the White House because of his relationship with the first lady and his comments about the size of his colleague’s penis. He repeatedly made assumptions and made inappropriate assumptions about the sexuality of his colleagues.
Zients responded to the complaints by saying that he and the first couple “have complete confidence in Anthony’s character.”[i]It is unfortunate that he has become the target of baseless attacks from anonymous sources.” A leading sexual harassment expert called the statement an “incredible no-no.”
“What message does that send to the staff working for Jeff?” the former White House official asked on Tuesday.
“Even if they didn’t know before this story that there was no recourse, Jeff said that if you’re being harassed by a senior White House official, his door is closed. “He made it clear he didn’t want to listen to you,” the person added.
“This statement sent a huge smoke signal to the staff in the building to go to the press and not the chief of staff.”
The former official continued, “No White House chief of staff should be put in a position to tolerate abuse or harassment from his own staff anywhere, let alone the White House. The first thing to do is fire the person who convinced you to put your name on that statement.”
Another person said Zients’ statement “shows how powerful and untouchable Anthony is” and surprised colleagues who have worked for Biden.
The source said, “It is outrageous for the chief of staff to dismiss Mr. Anthony’s repeated abusive behavior as “baseless attacks” without investigating it.”
“It comes from above. The Biden family is more interested in protecting known predators than they are in protecting them.” [verbal] victims of abuse. ”
Spokespeople for Mr. Zients and the first lady’s office did not immediately issue a statement responding to the criticism.
Louise Fitzgerald, a professor emeritus at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign who advises federal agencies on sexual harassment and is an expert on high-profile federal court cases, said Zients’ disregard was a red flag. told the paper.
“In the private sector, that’s an incredible no-no,” Fitzgerald said.
“I don’t know what happens if you’re a federal employee, but in the private sector, if you don’t investigate, there’s a lot of liability.”
Zients is a successful businessman with a reported net worth of Between $89 million and $442 million. He has held important corporate management positions, including serving on Facebook’s board of directors from 2018 to 2020 and as CEO of investment firm Cranemere.
He is also an investor in Call Your Mother, a successful bagel chain in the D.C. area.
“Jeff Zients, a well-respected and consummate professional in politics and business, would never allow his four children to be treated like that at work,” a Post source said. one person said.
“His statement sounds like the script for a hostage video of a prisoner with a gun to his head. Who would look at a comment like that and think now that their children or siblings would work for a man like Jeff Zients? Would you like it?”
Mr. Bernal’s bullying behavior toward staff, including making colleagues cry, spreading humiliating gossip, and cornering subordinates with his whims and overbearing demands, was reported by Politico in August 2021 and by a New York Times reporter. This is also reported in Katie Rogers’ recent book, American Woman.
The Post first reported that the bullying allegations against Bernal were said to have a sexual element.
Five sources spoke to the Post about public bullying allegations against Bernal. Four people said they had heard Bernal making assumptions about a co-worker’s sexual orientation, three people had first-hand accounts of Bernal speculating about a co-worker’s genitals, and two said he had heard Bernal making guesses about a co-worker’s genitals, and two said he had heard Bernal speculating about a co-worker’s genitals, and two said he had heard Bernal speculating about a co-worker’s genitals. Bernal said he shared the theory that the length of the penis is proportional to the length of the penis.
The revelations about Bernal came hours after another White House aide, former White House aide Ian Merle, reported: Retired on March 1st following an investigation by the White House Counsel’s Office into allegations of verbal harassment.
Bernal’s critics say the domestic acceptance of his actions stems from Biden’s promise on his first day in office that he would fire his aides “on the spot” if he heard they had shown “disrespect” to the public in their professional conduct. He said it was inconsistent with the oath.
“This is the second report within 24 hours of abuse and bullying by senior White House staff,” a source told the Post.
“When does Jeff take responsibility for his staff? That’s what his job is all about.”
