Critics of Vice President Kamala Harris have recently delved into her past, pointing out her relationship with Willie Brown, a prominent figure in California’s Democratic circles. According to an exposé by the New York Post, this relationship played a significant role in advancing her career.
Harris, who served as California’s Attorney General before becoming Vice President, was involved with Brown, the former Speaker of the California Assembly, when she was 29 and he was 60. Their relationship, which began in 1994, is said to have provided Harris with substantial benefits, including high-profile opportunities and material gifts. The New York Post’s report references Dean Morain’s 2021 book, “Kamala’s Way: An American Life,” which details how Brown facilitated her career advancement. The book notes that Brown provided Harris with a BMW, arranged trips for her to Paris, and took her to exclusive events such as the Academy Awards. Brown also reportedly introduced her to Donald J. Trump during a trip to Boston.
Media coverage from the early 1990s described Harris and Brown as a prominent couple, with the San Francisco Chronicle referring to her as “the speaker’s new steady” and the Los Angeles Times noting her as his “frequent companion.” In 1994, Brown appointed Harris to the California Medical Assistance Commission, a position with a $72,000 annual salary, equivalent to over $150,000 today. This appointment and her involvement with the commission brought her significant media attention.
Brown, now 90, has publicly acknowledged his role in Harris’s career development. In 2019, he admitted that their relationship influenced her career, including his support for her initial race for district attorney in San Francisco. Harris used her position as San Francisco District Attorney as a stepping stone to become California’s Attorney General in 2011 and then a U.S. Senator in 2017. She ran for president in 2019 but was criticized by Joe Biden for her past criticisms of his record. Despite this, Biden selected her as his running mate, and she has since taken on the role of Vice President.
