[5][6], In 2013 Flournoy took up a role as chief of staff for former President Bill Clinton. Hartina M. "Tina" Flournoy (born April 30, 1956) is an American political advisor who served as chief of staff to vice president Kamala Harris from 2021 to 2022. 1996 - 2023 NewsHour Productions LLC. The day's top national and international news. President Biden and Vice President Harris tapped two Hoyas to run their staffs: Ron Klain (C83) and Tina Flournoy (C78, L84). And she does it all with a great sense of humor and an unwavering belief that we all have an ability and an obligation to make a difference. (CNN) -- Vice President Kamala Harris ' chief of staff, Tina Flournoy, is leaving her position this spring, a White House official told CNN Thursday. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph. Harris has regularly joined President-elect Joe Biden and offered remarks at briefings on the economy, the coronavirus and health care since the two won the November election. During the 2000 United States presidential election, Flournoy was traveling Chief of Staff to the Democratic vice-presidential nominee Joe Lieberman and Finance Director for the Al Gore 2000 presidential campaign. Check out the singer and reality star strolling with her sorors below. And thats what we do today.". While the Biden-Harris team has not officially But he has yet to define her role more specifically or to announce her policy portfolio. "When you start trying to control his other senior advisors who also have his best interest in mind, it kind of becomes an information vacuum," this person said. Read moreHouse Republicans pass US debt bill, push President Biden on spending, A South Carolina grand jury Tuesday charged convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh with two counts of tax evasion after prosecutors reviewed his final years of tax returns before he headed behind bars. attended Texas Southern, where she pledged Delta Sigma Theta. He is a fan of Southern rock, bourbon and horse racing. While Flournoy was chief of staff, Clinton held an infamous tarmac meeting with then-Attorney General Loretta Lynchwhile his wife ran for president in the 2016 election. "I'm not 100% sure, except I'm 100% sure, that you're editing a year-old story from the AssociatedPress' Little Rock bureau," he wrote. Kamala Harris' chief of staff has effectively shut out several longtime political and business world allies of the vice president, according to people familiar with the matter. Read moreAP source: Former VP Pence testifies before election probe grand jury, President Biden has threatened to veto the Republican package, which has almost no chance of passing the Democratic Senate in the meantime, and the president has so far refused to negotiate over the debt ceiling which the White House insists must be lifted with no strings to ensure America pays its bills. Sheis a proud sister of the prominent African American sorority, one that boasts an extensive network of 300,000 members nationwide. Higher wind gusts possible.. Clear skies. When we look at where Tina Flournoy, the chief of staff for Vice President Kamala Harris, has established a reputation as a tough gatekeeper, using similar tactics to those she used newsletter for analysis you wont find anywhereelse. Although big names including Aretha Franklin, Angela Bassett and Soledad OBrien are considered honorary members, were taking this Founders Day to celebrate women who actually pledged the sorority either as undergraduate or graduate school students. SACRAMENTO, CALIF. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris has named Tina Flournoy, a veteran Democratic strategist and aide to the Clintons, as her chief of staff, the transition team announced Thursday. A spokeswoman for Harris did not answer questions seeking comment. Their appointments come as Biden has fielded complaints from prominent minority groups that he hasnt named more Black and Latino people to his Cabinet and other top-tier posts. VP-elect Harris picks Tina Flournoy to be her chief of staff, By AAMER MADHANI and ZEKE MILLER Associated Press, By Thomas Novelly She's done a wonderful job as my chief of staff for nearly 8 years, and I will miss her but I'm thrilled about VP-elect Harris' choice," he tweeted. All Rights Reserved. Clinton praised the hiring of Flournoy in a tweet after Harris made the official announcement. In a statement sent by email from a White House official, Harris said of Flournoy: Tina has been a valued advisor and confidant to me and tremendous leader for the office. From day 1, she led our team during a historic first year as we made progress rebuilding our economy here at home and our alliances around the world. Moore, who didn't return a request for comment, was once named as one of the 100 most powerful women in Washington. Flournoy will lead a small office whose hires to date are all female and mostly women of color, all of whom will be working for the first woman and woman of color ever elected to national office. "I think Tina put some much needed structure and guardrails around that operation and I'm grateful for it," McKenna told CNBC on Wednesday. Hilton Head's preserved natural beauty is part of its brand. British-born actress Jodie-Turner Smith discusses her Jamaican roots and the connection between Black folks all over the world. Flournoy was among the dozen-plus people cc'd on that email. Higher wind gusts possible.. Clear skies. Can the island keep it? Lorraine Voles, who was brought in as a senior adviser to the vice president last summer, will step into the role. But the fellow financier declined to share Flournoy's email address for fear of losing access themselves. Tina Flournoy, the chief of staff for Vice President Kamala Harris, has established a reputation as a tough gatekeeper, using similar tactics to those she used while overseeing former President Bill Clinton's post-White House office. WASHINGTON Vice President-elect Kamala Harris has chosen Tina Flournoy, a longtime aide to President Bill Clinton, to be her chief of staff, transition She needs someone who can honor the historic nature of her candidacy and her victory and her place in the world, he said. | Privacy Policy. Many of them worked in support of Biden and Harris. According to a report by Vanity Fair, Clinton and Band interacted with some controversial celebrities and executives, including the late Jeffrey Epstein, who laterdiedby suicide in prison after being arrested for child sex trafficking. According to CNN, Tina Flournoy has been chosen by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris to be her chief of staff. They both served as GU Politics Advisory Board members, and they returned to the virtual Hilltop to celebrate GU Politics 5th anniversary and have a conversation on the importance of public service. There are 18 Alpha Kappa Alpha chapters in South Carolina ranging from public schools such as Clemson University and the College of Charleston to historically Black colleges and universities such as Benedict andVoorhees colleges. Campaign Chairman John Podesta hugs Tina Flournoy, chief of staff to former U.S. President Bill Clinton, as they attend an event being held by Hillary Clinton to address her staff and supporters about the results of the U.S. election at a hotel in the Manhattan borough of New York, November 9, 2016. She's an extraordinary person, and I'm so fortunate and forever grateful to have had her as my chief of staff.". Before that, Tina Flournoy was deputy campaign manager in the 1992 Clinton and Gore Presidential Transition Office and in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel. It was a women-of-color election, said Aimee Allison, founder and president of She the People, a group advocating for women of color in politics. The people declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter. "Tina Flournoy is incredibly smart, strong, and skillful, with deeply rooted values. Biden has said he expects Harris to serve in a similar capacity as he did to President Obama, as a key voice in major policy decisions. On multiple occasions, people who worked under Flournoy in Clinton's office felt they were boxed out as she favored only certain ideas. Kosoglu is of South Asian descent. But some people may find strong, driven, smart people intimidating, but I think thats more projection than reality because thats just not Tinas intent or style. How Palm Springs ran out Black and Latino families to build a fantasy for rich, white people, 17 SoCal hiking trails that are blooming with wildflowers (but probably not for long! She helped organize a "Get Out The Vote" event encouraging college students to go to the polls. Read moreClyburn-backed veteran organizer wins SC Democrats chair race, Its an over Read moreScoppe: SC public school backers lost the battle; without a reset, they'll lose the war, The back-and-forth between Haley and DeSantis could show howthe early stages of the Republican primary might unfold: With GOP contenders locked in a political battle royale to determine which candidate should emerge as the strongest challenger to Trump rather than taking on the frontrunner directly. 148 Williman Street Flournoy's resume is quite impressive. Protect the boss' time," Jennifer Palmieri, who used to work in President Barack Obama's White House and later Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign, tweeted. Founded on Jan. 13, 1913, at Howard University, the organization boasts several notable members who have gone on to do amazing things in art, politics, business and more. Other members of the Divine Nine Black fraternities and sororities have a total membership approaching 1 million across the nation. While Alpha Kappa Alpha chapters have to refrain from overt endorsements, it didn't stop many individuals from showing up to events, encouraging people to vote and give financially. Kathleen Ronayne, Associated Press "I always say that my parents gave me the greatest gift that I've ever received a belief in the possible," she told the Savannah Morning News in 2010. Doesn't always make you popular. Flournoy, appearing not to know that the text was from an old AP article, then wrote back with edits for the story. Flournoy is African American. While the organization'snonprofit status prevents the sorority from endorsing political candidates, Alpha Kappa Alpha has been outspokenly supportive of Harris victory. Many of those calls have yet to be returned, these people said. She's always admired the vice president-elect and even said she's been mistaken as her doppelgnger at airports and restaurants. Shes done a wonderful job as my chief of staff for nearly 8 years, and I will miss herbut Im thrilled about VP-elect Harris choice, he tweeted. We shall not be moved." LOS ANGELES - NOV 14: Keshia Knight Pulliam at the "It's A Wonderful Lifetime" Red Carpet at the Grove on November 14, 2018 in Los Angeles, CA / Natalie Cole at 2002 Grammy Awards, LA, CA 2/27/2002, By subscribing, you agree to share your email address with EBONY to receive our weekly emails, events, and other updates. Kosoglu had served as Harris top adviser during the general election campaign. That follows a career that took her to top posts at the Democratic National Committee, in the presidential campaigns of former Vice President Al Gore and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and with the American Federation of Teachers. After graduating from Georgetown Law, Flournoy served as a clerk for Julia Cooper Mack of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. The email includes text from a previously published AP article to serve as an example of the Clinton Foundation story, which was expected in a few days. Please see our. "Her election is a reaffirmation of what HBCUs have historically provided and continue to offer.". An example of Flournoy's management style is evident in a set of 2014 emails reviewed by CNBC. Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services. Vice President Kamala Harris and her Chief of Staff Tina Flournoy clap as they watch the Senate vote to pass the American Rescue Plan Saturday, March 6, 2021, in her West Wing of the White House. Tina Flournoy, chief of staff to Vice President Harris, is preparing to depart the White House, capping a long list of aides who have left Harriss office in recent SC's Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority sisters celebrate Kamala Harris' rise to vice president, By Jamie Lovegrove Subscribe to Here's the Deal, our politics newsletter. At that post, Flournoy oversaw a staff of approximately 10 people who worked directly with Clinton, and had regular engagement with the Clinton Foundation, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter. While South Carolina went for the Donald Trump-Mike Pence ticket three weeks ago, she felt like the hard work paid off. A Division of NBCUniversal. I call some of those people who were once around 'the unsavory humans,'" this person added. CRP also says she later had stints as a counsel for the Democratic National Convention, as a leader on Clinton's transition team after he was elected in 1992, and then as counsel for the former president's office of presidential personnel. Representation is everything.". After Flournoy was hired in 2013, multiple senior advisors who continued to work under her leadership stopped gaining as much access as they did to Clinton prior to her arrival, said people briefed on the matter. Some of the people who discussed their experience with Flournoy declined to be named because they were not authorized to speak about their time around Clinton, while others didn't want to risk retribution from Flournoy. If the person wants to just say hello and have a brief conversation, Flournoy says that time will come at future private events. But Minyon Moore, another former Clinton aide and close friend of Flournoy, is assisting Harris with staffing during the transition. Former colleagues describe Flournoy as a no-nonsense operative who has both policy and political chops. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris has named Tina Flournoy, a veteran Democratic strategist and aide to the Clintons, as her chief of staff, the transition team #TheOriginalSquad pic.twitter.com/jMuZgqGa6j. Politico reported on Wednesday that there is dysfunction in Harris' office and that much of the frustration stems from Flournoy. Thank you. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph. In this May 31, 2008 file photo, Tina Flournoy, then Democratic National Committee Rules and Bylaws committee member, during a hearing in Washington. She needed to make inroads in South Carolina an early primary state crucial to her chances of victory. Kathleen Ronayne, Associated Press. [2], Flournoy served as an executive at tobacco giant Philip Morris. Flournoy joins Ashley Etienne as Harris' communications director and Symone Sanders as her chief spokeswoman. Moore did not return CNBC's request for comment for the previous story on Flournoy. [3], In 1992, Flournoy was Counsel to Paul Kirk and Ron Brown on the Democratic National Committee, the General Counsel for the 1992 Democratic National Convention, Deputy Campaign Manager for the Transition of Bill Clinton and Al Gore and an employee in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel. The southern songstress attended Florida A&M University on a music scholarship, pledging FAMUs Beta Alpha chapter in the fall of 2001. The U.S. Army has grounded aviation units for training after 12 soldiers died within the last month in helicopter crashes in Alaska and Kentucky, the military branch announced Friday. Flournoy has never held a position with Harris. Nancy McEldowney, a former U.S. ambassador to Bulgaria and 30-year U.S. Foreign Service veteran, will be national security advisor. All rights reserved, Pope Francis Reveals Secret Peace Mission,' Help for Ukraine Kids Taken to Russia, 2 Teenagers Killed, 4 Wounded in Mississippi House Party Shooting, Man Arrested, Metropolitan Police Department (DC Police / MPD), Family Awaits Return of DC Mother Missing for More Than 3 Weeks, Daughter of Buccaneers LB Shaq Barrett Drowns in Family Pool, Why Fans Say Trips to Disney World Are Now Incredibly Complicated' to Pull Off, Woman Who Smashed Bus Is Jailed Despite Defense's Report of Mental Illness, Family Sues Banks After Veteran Allegedly Loses $3.6 Million in Wire Fraud Scheme. Read moreWhat Nikki Haley's dunk on Ron DeSantis says about the state of the 2024 race in SC, The Post and Courier Kamala Harris' chief of staff Tina Flournoy is leaving the vice president's staff, making her the most senior member of staff exodus that has been taking place for months.. A spokesman for Clinton did not return a request for comment. | Terms of Use Then this person decided to contact Flournoy. Some of these same advisors and donors are trying other routes, including by attempting to speak with Douglas Emhoff, the vice president's husband. Symone Sanders is set to serve as a senior adviser and chief spokesperson, while Ashley Etienne will become communications director for Harris. She later returned to University of Massachusetts, where she majored in Child Psychology and minored in German. She was replaced with Lorraine Voles, former senior advisor to Vice President Harris and communications director to Vice President Al Gore and then-Senator Hillary Clinton.[10]. He said the people complaining about lack of access are "whiners" who "need to get a life.". Though Harris team is well-known in Washington, only Kosoglu, whom Harris called one of my closest and most trusted aides, has experience working with Harris. "Tina Flournoy ran my office for more than eight years, making it more efficient, effective, and transparent. Alpha Kappa Alpha isis the first historically Black Greek-lettered sorority. Roberta Flack and her Delta Sigma Theta sisters at Howard University, 1965. Harris also announced Rohini Kosoglu as her domestic policy adviser and Nancy McEldowney as her national security adviser. Another Harris supporter said she hasn't heard from the vice president since a call with supporters during the transition period. Glenda Glover, the sorority's international president and CEO, has done countless interviews with national TV outlets since Harris' election and has publicly stated how much pride the Greek organization takes in her win. Within her role there, Flournoy led work in political mobilization, human rights and community outreach departments. She has led Clintons post-presidency office since 2013. In 1908 the organization was founded at Howard University, a historically Black college, in Washington, D.C. Harris was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha in 1986 as a student there. | Privacy Policy. Tina Flournoy, Harris chief of staff, is leaving the administration Lorraine Voles, who was brought in as a senior adviser to the vice president last summer, will step ", Flournoy is quite the force in the Democratic Party and she has been involved in prominent roles for decades. Reach Thomas Novelly at 843-937-5713. Harris has regularly joined President-elect Joe Biden and offered remarks at briefings on the economy, the coronavirus and health care since the two won the November election. All Rights Reserved. As Tina Flournoy exerts her power as a gatekeeper to the vice president, several of Harris' allies outside the federal government are struggling to get their calls Kamala Harris selected Tina Flournoy, who has served as chief of staff to President Clinton, to lead her vice presidential office when she and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris has named Tina Flournoy, a veteran Democratic strategist and aide to the Clintons, as her chief of staff, the transition team Campaign Chairman John Podesta hugs Tina Flournoy, chief of staff to former U.S. President Bill Clinton, as they attend an event being held by Hillary Clinton to address her staff and supporters about the results of the U.S. election at a hotel in the Manhattan borough of New York, November 9, 2016. Under chief of staff Tina Flournoy's watch, Harris speaks regularly to President Joe Biden, her family members, a tight group of friends, and her strategists, these people said. Her appearance wasn't a coincidence. tnovelly@postandcourier.com, Kamala Harris uses sorority connections to boost 2020 chances in SC, Harris' historic spot on presidential ticket energizes Black women, could impact SC voters, Biden signals shift from Trump with national security picks, VP-elect Harris picks Tina Flournoy to be her chief of staff, GOP leader McConnell finally acknowledges Biden won election. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris has named Tina Flournoy, a veteran Democratic strategist and aide to the Clintons, as her chief of staff, the transition team She took over managing access to Clinton after the departure of his longtime right-hand man, Doug Band. Jordan graduated magna cum laude with a double major in political science and history. Representation is critical more than ever before.". She oversaw about 10 employees in Clinton's office, while the vice president's office typically has a staff of up to 100 people. According to this article from last summer, it's more about Flournoy than the VP. Flournoy has served as chief of staff for former President Bill Clinton since 2013. Chiefs of staff, especially those in the highest echelons of government, are expected to run a tight ship for their bosses, including by limiting who gets in the door for meetings or who reaches them on the phone. jlovegrove@postandcourier.com, US Sen. Tim Scott teases 'major announcement' May 22 during Charleston town hall meeting, Clyburn-backed veteran organizer wins SC Democrats chair race, Scoppe: SC public school backers lost the battle; without a reset, they'll lose the war, What Nikki Haley's dunk on Ron DeSantis says about the state of the 2024 race in SC, The Berkeley Independent - Moncks Corner, SC, By Thomas Novelly That didn't work. Flournoy joins Ashley Etienne as Harris' communications director and Symone Sanders as her chief spokeswoman.Flournoy has served as chief of staff for former President Bill Clinton since 2013. A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? Flournoy credits her incredible success to her parents. A spokeswoman for Harris did not return a request for comment. Steven Law, who was once the chief of staff to McConnell, tweeted in support of Flournoy's work for Harris. During her time with the international union, Flournoy "directed the work of the AFT's legislative, political, field and mobilization, and human rights and community outreach departments. She has also worked various roles within the Democratic Party such as senior adviser to Howard Dean, then Democratic National Convention Chairman, in 2005. "They said, 'Stand together, take care of each other and serve your country as leaders.' Voles and another senior adviser, Adam Frankel, were brought in after Harris was criticized for messaging missteps that staff felt were overblown and reports of dysfunction in Harris office, with some of that ire pointed at Flournoy. He also covers the military community and veterans throughout South Carolina. Harris recently made her firstvisitas vice president to the U.S.-Mexico border, shetoutedPresident Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill, and is expected to have aroleworking on criminal justice reform, among other items. The article came to the conclusion that Flournoy, in an effort to screen and protect Harris, created a restrictive environment where decisions are prolonged and ideas are met with dismissals or ignored. Low 53F. Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox. In 1969, she completed her undergraduate degree in education atJersey City State College. Former colleagues describe Flournoy as a no-nonsense operative who has both policy and political chops. Flournoy's tight approach, which includes blocking longtime allies from contacting Harris, has led to both praise and criticism. She is a proud sister of the prominent African American sorority, one that boasts an extensive network of 300,000 members nationwide. Learn more about Friends of the NewsHour. "It's a testament to her leadership skills that she picked up at Howard University and the ones she learned at Alpha Kappa Alpha," Glover said in an interview with CBS. But Minyon Moore, another former Clinton aide and close friend of Flournoys, is assisting Harris with staffing during the transition. Harris, who is of Jamaican and Indian heritage, is the nation's first female vice president. Flournoy's appointment as Harris' top staffer adds to a team of advisers led by Black women. It certainly speaks to me as an AKA woman, but it also speaks to me as a Black woman and a sister senator. pledging FAMUs Beta Alpha chapter in the fall of 2001. Some said Flournoy screamed at Clinton allies, while others said she limited staff access to the former president and ignored their ideas.