An internal White House investigation found that Eric Lander, top science adviser for President Joe Biden, “bullied and demeaned his subordinates,” according to a report.
Politico obtained interviews and an audio recording showing the investigation also found that Lander violated the White House’s workplace policy.
There was “credible evidence” that Lander was “bullying” toward his then-general counsel, Rachel Wallace, as Politico reported.
According to Christian Peele, the White House’s deputy director of management and administration for personnel, the investigation found there was “credible evidence of disrespectful interactions with staff by Dr. Lander and OSTP leadership.”
Additionally, Peele said there was “credible evidence” Lander had spoken “harshly and disrespectfully to colleagues in front of other colleagues.”
He continued, “The investigation found credible evidence of instances of multiple women having complained to other staff about negative interactions with Dr. Lander, where he spoke to them in a demeaning or abrasive way in front of other staff.”
The outlet noted 14 individuals from the Office of Science and Technology Policy who worked with the top science adviser “shared similar descriptions of a toxic work environment where they say Lander frequently bullied, cut off and dismissed subordinates.”
Nine of them claimed Lander yelled and “sometimes made people feel humiliated in front of their peers.”
Politico first reported on an email Lander sent to his staff apologizing for his behavior.
“I am deeply sorry for my conduct. I especially want to apologize to those of you who I treated poorly or were present at the time,” he wrote.
Lander added, “It’s my responsibility to set a respectful tone for our community. It’s clear that I have not lived up to this responsibility. I have spoken to colleagues within OSTP in a disrespectful or demeaning way.”
A White House spokesperson told Politico, “a full and thorough investigation was conducted” and “White House leadership met with Dr. Lander to discuss the seriousness of the matter and the President’s expectation that all staff interactions be conducted with respect.”
An OSTP spokesperson also issued a statement, saying, “The investigation found credible evidence of violations of the EOP’s Safe and Respectful Workplace Policy, and corrective action was taken consistent with those findings.”
The spokesperson explained the office is “going to let Eric’s apology to our team speak for itself.”
One OSTP staffer spoke out, saying Lander “has a bit of Jekyll and Hyde personality.”
Another staffer pleaded with the president to “protect the dignity and well-being of our staff by standing by your zero-tolerance policy.”
Six current and former staffers suggested Lander appears to “take delight in trying to embarrass female colleagues in front of others.”
The second staffer argued Lander “seems to know he’s protected. The most terrifying part about him is the open and brazen way he conducts his abuse. After repeatedly insulting and humiliating me in front of colleagues, Lander acknowledged his inability to control himself, telling me ‘I hate that I do it.'”
On Biden’s Inauguration Day, the president vowed to fire anyone who treats “another colleague with disrespect, talk down to someone” on “the spot.”
