Kamala Harris branded a 'bully' for 'soul destroying criticism' on staff

US Vice President Kamala Harris has been branded a 'bully' who inflicted 'constant-soul destroying criticism' on her office staff in a damaging expose by a liberal newspaper, Daily Mail reported.

The Washington Post piece - a result of interviews with 18 people connected to the VP - also alleges that she'd fail to read briefings they'd prepared, only to turn on them if she was subsequently criticized for being unprepared, the report said.

The claims from staff who worked for Harris were published amid confirmed departures of two high level staffers, with two others who are said to be heading for the door too.

"It's clear that you're not working with somebody who is willing to do the prep and the work," a former colleague told the Washington Post.

"With Kamala you have to put up with a constant amount of soul-destroying criticism and also her own lack of confidence."

"So you're constantly sort of propping up a bully and it's not really clear why," Harris's staffer said, as per the report.

Meanwhile, Gil Duran, who worked with Kamala for just five months in 2013 before quitting, said the vice president was "repeating the same old destructive patterns."

Writing in his San Francisco Examiner column, he said: "One of the things we've said in our little text groups among each other is what is the common denominator through all this and it's her."

Speaking to the Washington Post, he added: "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", the report said.

People familiar with the conversations told Politico that even more "key members of Harris' orbit" are "eyeing the exits" and have expressed interest in leaving less than a year into her vice presidency, Daily Mail reported.

Her poll ratings have tanked, with top Democrats said to be appalled at the idea of her running for president in 2024, should Joe Biden decide not to seek a second term.

Harris' staff are leaving because they're burned out, there are better opportunities elsewhere and they don't want to be permanently branded a "Harris person," according to Axios.

--IANS

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