exclusive
WASHINGTON — Former aides to President Biden say they’re outraged that White House chief of staff Jeff Zients dismissed their allegations of bullying and verbal sexual harassment against first lady Jill Biden’s top aide Anthony Bernal — with Zients declaring them “unfounded attacks” without investigating.
Three sources exclusively told The Post Monday that Bernal, who is considered one of the most powerful officials at the White House due to his relationship with the first lady, repeatedly speculated to them about the penis sizes of coworkers and inappropriately postulated the sexuality of peers.
Zients said in response to those complaints Monday evening that he and the first couple “have full confidence in Anthony’s character” and that “[i]t is disappointing that he is the target of unfounded attacks from unnamed sources” — a statement that a prominent sexual harassment expert called “an incredible no-no.”
On Tuesday afternoon, a former Biden White House official who worked with Bernal and did not initially speak to The Post said that they were alarmed to see Zients’ remarks.
“It’s a troubling quote because it’s widely known that Anthony’s behavior is unacceptable and to have senior staff dismiss it like that tells everyone in the building that that kind of behavior is OK and it won’t even be looked into,” this person said.
“It sends a signal that these kinds of things are not going to be taken seriously and are not going to be investigated — and I think that obviously sets a troubling precedent for anyone else who is struggling [with bullying and harassment].”
The former official echoed their colleagues in saying that “the way that [Bernal] treats other people is really not in line with the way the Bidens say that they want people to be treated.”
One of The Post’s initial sources for the bullying and sexual harassment allegeations said: “If you can have the White House chief of staff come to your defense on issues that are widely known and deeply problematic, that certainly shows your influence.”
“What kind of message does that send to the staff who work for Jeff?” added this source, a former senior administration official.
“If they didn’t know that they had zero recourse before the story, Jeff made it pretty clear that if you’re harassed by senior staff at the White House, his door is closed, and he doesn’t want to hear you,” they went on.
“That statement sent a huge smoke signal to the staff inside the building to just go to the press, not the chief of staff.”
The ex-official continued: “A White House chief of staff should not be placed in a position to condone abuse and harassment from his own personnel in any place, let alone the White House. The first thing Jeff should do is fire whomever convinced him to put his name on that statement.”
Another source said that Zients’ statement both “shows how powerful and untouchable Anthony is” and stunned peers who have worked for Biden.
“It’s outrageous that the chief of staff dismisses Anthony’s repeated abusive behavior as ‘unfounded attacks’ straight out of hand without investigating them,” this person said.
“It comes from the top. The Bidens are more interested in…
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