Vice President Kamala Harris’ brother-in-law and campaign adviser has led roundtables seeking policy perspectives from billionaire executives while she’s claimed she’d “make the wealthy pay their fair share,” according to The Wall Street Journal.
Tony West, Harris’ brother-in-law and chief legal officer at Uber, led a series of meetings in September at luxe New York City event venue Cipriani 42nd Street, convening with billionaire CEOs such as Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan and Brian Roberts of Comcast, the WSJ reported. Meanwhile, Harris has been touting her “New Way Forward” economic plan, which proposes raising the corporate tax rate to 28% in order to ensure “the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share in taxes,” and has even supported a wealth tax on Americans worth $100 million or more.
“I don’t begrudge West and the Harris campaign for trying to have business outreach going on,” Faiz Shakir, a longtime adviser to Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, told the WSJ. “But you don’t simultaneously see an outreach to those wanting to unrig the economy.”
West listened to business magnates’ opinions on policy issues such as technology, healthcare and economics, with attendees telling the WSJ they see Harris’ brother-in-law as a member of her inner circle who can speak on her behalf, the WSJ reported.
Dimon has donated to both Republicans and Democrats, providing $3,300 donations this year to both Democratic Nevada Sen. Jacky Rosen and Republican Arkansas Rep. French Hill, according to Open Secrets.
Roberts has also supported candidates from both parties financially, giving a $10,000 donation to the Democratic Party of Pennsylvania in 2010 after dishing out a $2,500 donation and $10,000 donation to the Republican Federal Committee of Pennsylvania in 2004.
West has played a significant role in Harris’ campaign, serving among a team of top economic advisers responsible for briefing think-tank leaders and former administration officials on the Democratic nominee’s economic platform, according to the WSJ. He also praised Harris at the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 21, remarking, “she’ll fight for all of us, because friends, when Kamala fights, we win.”
Before West took leave from Uber to volunteer on the campaign, he was involved in a $200 million effort in 2020 to pass a California ballot initiative that exempted companies like Uber and Lyft from having to classify their drivers as employees, thus allowing them to provide less benefits, the WSJ reported. West’s role in the initiative reportedly became a point of contention within the International Brotherhood of Teamsters when the union had to decide who to endorse in the 2024 presidential election, with the Teamsters, who have historically supported Democrats, ultimately declining to endorse a candidate.
“That led to a conversation about who she might side with when it comes to gig and the tech industry, which is a concern for working people,” an unnamed source told the WSJ regarding the effect White’s role in the 2020 California ballot initiative had on the Teamster’s deliberation process.
The Harris campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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