Shapiro on Harris’ Vetting Questions

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro revealed that during discussions about potential running mates, former Vice President Kamala Harris’ team posed a rather eyebrow-raising question: whether she had ever been an “agent of the Israeli government.” This statement came from a preview of Shapiro’s forthcoming book titled “Where We Keep the Light,” which is set to be published on Sunday.

As reported, this section of the book highlights what Shapiro described as “unnecessarily controversial” inquiries made by Harris’ vetting team, especially from former Biden aide Dana Remus. He recounted how he felt uncomfortable with the question, pondering if it was, perhaps, a jest. “Was I an Israeli double agent? Was she kidding?” Shapiro reflected in the book.

He acknowledged that while Remus was merely fulfilling her role, the nature of the question raised concerns about the individuals around the vice president. Shapiro also expressed his thoughts on broader political issues, particularly about whether he should apologize for past comments regarding protesters at the University of Pennsylvania who had been critical of Israeli military actions in Gaza. He felt that the vetting team’s inquiries lacked substance, focusing more on his personal beliefs than on relevant issues.

Ultimately, Shapiro revealed that he decided against becoming Harris’ running mate after receiving indications that his presence could be a financial burden. “Are you trying to convince me not to do that?” he recalled thinking in response.

In her own book, “107 Days,” Harris criticized Shapiro for wanting too much involvement in decision-making, reminding him that a vice president is not a co-president.

In a post-publication interview, Shapiro dismissed Harris’ claims as “complete and utter nonsense,” adding, “She’s trying to cover herself by selling books.” However, he quickly clarified that he didn’t mean to imply that she was seeking to cover anything up.