After a flurry of departures, Kamala Harris, Vice President, has appointed a new communications director. Fox News confirmed that Harris has appointed Jamal Simmons, longtime Democratic communications aide, to fill the position. The decision is expected to be made this week.
Simmons, a Michigan native will replace Ashley Etienne (former communications director for Harris), who announced in November she would be stepping down. Etienne isn’t the only vice president who has announced his intention to leave the office.
Symone Sanders, Harris’ chief spokesperson, resigned last month. Vincent Evans, the vice president’s deputy chief of public engagement, intergovernmental affairs, and communications, announced this week in a statement to CNBC that he will be leaving to become the Executive Director of the Congressional Black Caucus.
On Thursday, Peter Velz, Harris’ director of press operations, was relieved. He will take on a new position at the State Department, and announced his resignation from Harris’ office in November.
These departures follow a CNN November report that highlighted growing frustration in Harris’ office. Harris’ approval numbers continue to decline amid a string of gaffes during Harris’ first year in office.
