Vetting Controversy Unveiled
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro disclosed that the Kamala Harris campaign inquired whether he had ever acted as a “double agent for Israel” during the vice-presidential vetting process. This revelation highlights the complexities Jewish Democrats face amid increasing pro-Palestinian sentiments within the party.
In his upcoming memoir, set to be published next week, Shapiro expressed his astonishment and offense when members of Harris’ team probed into his perspectives on Israel and any potential connections with its government.
“Had I been a double agent for Israel?” Shapiro recounted in his book, referencing excerpts that gained traction online after their release.
Dana Remus, a senior member of the Harris campaign’s vetting team and former White House counsel under President Biden, asked if he had “been an agent of the Israeli government.”
Shapiro questioned the seriousness of such inquiries, stating, “I told her how offensive the question was.” Remus responded by saying, “Well, we have to ask,” before further probing about any communication with undercover agents for Israel.
The governor expressed disbelief at these questions. “If they were undercover,” he wrote in his memoir titled Where We Keep the Light: Stories from a Life of Service, “how the hell would I know?” He noted that while he understood Remus was just doing her job, it reflected poorly on those surrounding the vice president.
The fallout from this incident is notable. Harris ultimately chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate instead of Shapiro, who many believed could have secured Pennsylvania—a crucial swing state—leading to her loss there by 120,000 votes against President Trump.
The account has sparked outrage among Jewish leaders. Deborah Lipstadt, serving as antisemitism envoy under President Biden, expressed her growing concern over Shapiro’s treatment during vetting. She described these inquiries as classic antisemitism.
“The more I read about [Shapiro’s] treatment in the vetting process, the more disturbed I become,” Lipstadt stated on social media.
New Jersey Representative Josh Gottheimer labeled these inquiries as “outrageous” and indicative of antisemitism. Conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt also condemned them as classic antisemitic tropes.
“Reports that Gov. Josh Shapiro was asked if he was a ‘double agent for Israel’ during VP vetting are nothing short of outrageous,” Gottheimer tweeted.
This controversy raises questions about attitudes toward Jewish candidates within the Democratic Party. Hewitt remarked on how times have changed since former Senator Joseph Lieberman faced similar scrutiny without such accusations during his candidacy in 2000.
