A new book sheds light on the inner workings of the Biden administration, revealing that an aide to then-President Kamala Harris was notably paranoid about her social engagements, acting as “Mock Soire” before a casual dinner party in Washington, D.C., during spring 2022.
In “Original Sin,” co-authors Alex Thompson and Jake Tapper highlight how Harris’s advisers became overly cautious, almost rehearsing social settings.
The “salon-style dinner” that Harris attended at the residence of media mogul David Bradley reportedly went off without any issues. Bradley’s portfolio includes ownership of national magazines and ties to Atlantic magazine.
Yet, Thompson and Tapper reveal some discontent among Biden’s supporters, characterizing the Vice President as a consistent source of frustration at the White House.
“She frequently veered away from politically sensitive tasks when Biden took on his vice presidential responsibilities,” the authors note, adding that some relatively simple requests, such as headlines for the Gridiron Club dinner in D.C., were dismissed.
About six months prior to the “Mock Soire,” Harris and her team backtracked on releasing a peculiar video about space exploration, featuring a child actor who auditioned for it.
In May 2021, Harris was appointed to lead the National Space Council, a role that Thompson and Tapper describe as “politically safe ground.”
“Many individuals on Biden’s team felt that Harris was underperforming in her role,” the book states. “Some expressed quiet regrets, suggesting they might have preferred [Michigan Gov. Gretchen] Whitmer as Biden’s running mate in 2020.”
Biden had committed to selecting a woman as his vice presidential pick, with Harris and Whitmer being the final choices outlined in the book.
Support for Harris came from Biden’s close allies, including future White House chief of staff Ron Klain.
However, Jill Biden appeared concerned about Harris’s remarks regarding her husband during a significant Democratic debate in June 2019.
After Harris joined the ticket, tension persisted between the two camps.
“Harris’s aides began to categorize Biden’s advisers into what they termed ‘cabals of useless people’ versus those considered ‘helpful,'” Thompson and Tapper mention. “Individuals like Anthony Vernal from the First Lady’s Office and [White House Deputy Chief of Staff] Jen O’Malley Dillon were often viewed as part of the latter group.”
Ironically, O’Malley Dillon later chaired Harris’s campaign after Biden withdrew from the 2024 race in late July.
“Original Sin” is set to be released on May 20th.
