https://investigativeresearchcenter.org/meet-members-of-bidens-secretive-transition-team/
JEFF ZIENTS
An article in the Washington Post described Jeff Zients as “the businessman’s businessman in the Obama White House --- someone whom corporate leaders felt they could talk to in an administration they often thought was too tough on them.”
After serving as director of the National Economic Council, Zients joined Facebook’s board of directors.
This spring, Zients gave up his seat on the board and reportedly had strong disagreements with Mark Zuckerberg over the company’s direction. The Biden campaign has made the Facebook CEO a personal target in a crusade against the tech giant for being too friendly to Trump. It’s unclear how involved Zients is in that endeavor.
In March 2020, a liberal publication included Zients on a “Do Not Re-Appoint List” for Biden.
JULIE SIEGEL
Julie Siegel is a former Obama-Biden and Elizabeth Warren staffer. She endorsed Elizabeth Warren’s controversial “wealth tax” and backed progressive’s plan to take on private equity and #StopWallStreetLooting.
Siegel wasn’t always enthusiastic about a Biden nomination. She used her Twitter account to promote an article that essentially accused the Democrat nominee of platform plagiarizing: “Warren’s Democratic opponents are now rushing to respond with their own deep policy ideas; Joe Biden’s staff seems to be pulling all-nighters, cutting and pasting from whatever looks good, to match Warren’s policy shop.
--EVAN RYAN==
In 2008, Ryan served as deputy campaign manager to Biden’s presidential campaign. She later served as a prominent advisor to the vice president and then as assistant secretary of state. She is married to another tenured Biden confidante, Tony Blinken.
In 1997, the Los Angeles Times reported that a major Democratic donor, Johnny Chung, said he gave a $50,000 check to Hillary Clinton’s staff while on White House grounds. He added that the money given was in response to a direct solicitation made by aides. The report says Chung was “seeking VIP treatment for a delegation of visiting Chinese businessmen when he was asked to help the first lady defray the cost of White House Christmas receptions billed to the Democratic National Committee.” He then went into details about an alleged conversation with Evan Ryan regarding requests to help Hillary.
GAUTAM RAGHAVAN
Before joining the transition committee, Gautam Raghavan served as chief of staff to Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, the Progressive Caucus Co-Chair. He had previously served as a consultant to left-wing organizations, including the Biden Foundation.
==AVRIL HAINES--
Her corporate biography page for WestExec Advisors states: “Avril Haines most recently served as the Principal Deputy National Security Advisor to President Obama. Just prior to that appointment, she was the Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and before that she served as the Legal Adviser to the National Security Council and as Deputy Counsel to the President for National Security Affairs at the White House. Before moving to the White House, Avril was the head of the Treaty Office at the Department of State, having previously served at State as an attorney adviser in areas such as the law of war, treaty law, and private international law.” Haines portfolio included a wide range of controversial issues including U.S. intervention in Syria, Iran’s nuclear program, drone strikes, and targeted killings.
YOHANNES ABRAHAM
Prior to joining the transition team, Abraham served as a senior advisor at the Obama Foundation and worked as a top aide to Valerie Jarrett while in the White House. His portfolio included failed efforts to pass Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and confirm Justice Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court.
TED KAUFMAN
The former staffer-turned-senator came under fire this past spring after allegations of sexual assault surfaced against Joe Biden from a former aide named Tara Reade. Reade recalled allegedly complaining to Kaufman about the matter, and insists Kaufman took notes during the process. The transition chief denies the allegations, claiming he has no recollection of meeting with Reade.