Scientist hired by Biden to cure cancer ousted for abusing employees
This article features Government Accountability Project’s Of Counsel, David Seide, and was originally published here.
President Joe Biden’s top science advisor, Eric Lander, resigned Monday night after admitting that he abused employees — an awkward look for the White House, given that Biden swore on day one of taking office last year that he would fire anybody “on the spot” if they “treat another colleague with disrespect.”
Lander served as the director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and has remained in office even after several White House staffers filed complaints about his aberrant behavior, first reported by Politico on Monday.
He was also in charge of rebooting Biden’s “cancer moonshot” initiative, which Biden initially led while serving as vice president during the Obama administration.
But his behavior has reportedly been nothing but terrible.
“Credible evidence” collected by the Biden administration found that Lander violated the White House’s “safe and respectful workplace policy,” Politico reports, by demeaning and “bullying” subordinates, especially women.
Multiple women have reportedly come forward since last year, accusing Lander of mistreatment, including Rachel Wallace, who was serving as a civil servant for the OSTP last year.
Lander “retaliated against staff for speaking out and asking questions by calling them names, disparaging them, embarrassing them in front of...
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