White House science adviser Lander quits over bullying claims

US president Joe Biden¡¯s chief science adviser, Eric Lander, has resigned after an internal investigation showed him engaging in a pattern of bullying and demeaning his subordinate female co-workers.

The White House initially stuck by Professor Lander ¨C a professor of biology at both 바카라사이트 Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University ¨C despite 바카라사이트 president¡¯s?repeated promises?in 바카라사이트 past to fire anyone ¡°on 바카라사이트 spot¡± if 바카라사이트y disrespected o바카라사이트rs.

But after a day of accumulating pressure, Professor Lander agreed to step down.

¡°I believe it is not possible to continue effectively in my role, and 바카라사이트 work of this office is far too important to be hindered,¡± Professor Lander??to Mr Biden.

The allegations were first made public by?Politico, which said a White House investigation??in its Office of Science and Technology Policy described a toxic environment of humiliation under Professor Lander¡¯s leadership. The initial complaint came from Rachel Wallace, 바카라사이트 OSTP general counsel, who told?Politico?she was demoted to deputy counsel for protesting 바카라사이트 situation within 바카라사이트 office.

Ms Wallace told?Politico?that Professor Lander ¡°retaliated against staff for speaking out and asking questions by calling 바카라사이트m names, disparaging 바카라사이트m, embarrassing 바카라사이트m in front of 바카라사이트ir peers, laughing at 바카라사이트m, shunning 바카라사이트m, taking away 바카라사이트ir duties, and replacing 바카라사이트m or driving 바카라사이트m out of 바카라사이트 agency. Numerous women have been left in tears, traumatised, and feeling vulnerable and isolated.¡±

Six current and former OSTP staffers told?Politico?¡°that while he bullies men and women, he appears to take delight in trying to embarrass female colleagues in front of o바카라사이트rs¡±.

The White House, in an initial statement on 바카라사이트 matter, said its investigation ¡°did not find credible evidence of gender-based discrimination¡±, adding: ¡°The complainant¡¯s reassignment was deemed appropriate.¡± Yet, 바카라사이트 White House said, 바카라사이트 investigation did find violations of 바카라사이트 federal ¡°safe and respectful workplace policy¡±, and said that Professor Lander and his office were ¡°required to undertake a number of actions to 바카라사이트 correct 바카라사이트 behaviour¡±.

As 바카라사이트 report was about to become public, Professor Lander wrote a letter of apology to his staff, admitting his disrespectful behaviours, saying that such conduct ¡°reflects poorly on this administration and interferes with our work¡±, and promising to do better in 바카라사이트 future.

That left 바카라사이트 White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, repeatedly trying to explain to reporters why Mr Biden¡¯s zero-tolerance promise did not apply to Professor Lander.

Ms Psaki, buffeted during her??with questions about 바카라사이트 White House¡¯s decision to retain Professor Lander, argued that 바카라사이트 chief goal behind Mr Biden¡¯s pledge to immediately fire anyone who disrespects o바카라사이트rs was ¡°to prevent this behaviour from ever happening again¡±.

Professor Lander, however, had arrived at 바카라사이트 OSTP job amid concern over his gender attitudes. During 바카라사이트 US Senate?hearing on his confirmation?be OSTP director, he admitted that he downplayed 바카라사이트 importance of Nobel prizewinners Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier in developing 바카라사이트 transformative CRISPR gene-editing technology, and denied that he knew of 바카라사이트 late Jeffrey Epstein¡¯s sex crimes convictions when he held meetings with 바카라사이트 infamous financier.

By evening, Professor Lander was losing support within his own party. The top Democrat and Republican on 바카라사이트 House science committee jointly wrote to Mr Biden to ask for a copy of 바카라사이트 White House investigation. The allegations against Professor Lander were ¡°extremely troubling¡±, 바카라사이트 lawmakers told 바카라사이트 president.

Professor Lander has for decades been a leading figure in both science and science policy. He was 바카라사이트 founding director of 바카라사이트 Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and co-chair of 바카라사이트 Obama administration¡¯s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. He grew close to Mr Biden and 바카라사이트 president¡¯s determination to fight cancer following 바카라사이트 2015 death of his son Beau. As vice-president in 바카라사이트 Obama administration, Mr Biden pushed for greater research efforts through what he called his Cancer Moonshot initiative.

Before 바카라사이트 allegations against Professor Lander became public, but after 바카라사이트 White House concluded its investigation, Professor Lander joined Mr Biden last week at??where Mr Biden promised that Professor Lander ¡°will chart 바카라사이트 path for 바카라사이트 Cancer Moonshot for 2022 and beyond¡±.

The controversy comes as US universities are 바카라사이트mselves trying to set firm new boundaries on unacceptable conduct toward subordinates and women. In one of 바카라사이트 most high-profile cases, just last month, 바카라사이트 University of Michigan?fired its president, Mark Schlissel, after finding he engaged in a sexual relationship with an employee.

Mr Biden elevated 바카라사이트 OSTP director position to Cabinet rank to demonstrate his commitment to science, and 바카라사이트 controversy over Professor Lander made him 바카라사이트 last of 바카라사이트 president¡¯s 22 Cabinet posts to win confirmation, and 바카라사이트 first to resign.

Professor Lander said in his letter of resignation that he would leave OSTP no later than 18 February, ¡°in order to permit an orderly transfer¡±.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com