Ron Klain plans to step down as Biden’s White House Chief of Staff

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
22 Jan 2023 09:06

Klain's exact timing is still unknown, and he is likely to remain in the West Wing for a period of time to assist with the transition process for his replacement.

US President Joe Biden with his top aide Ron Klain (Reuters)

President Joe Biden's chief of staff, Ron Klain, is reportedly set to quit his position in the coming weeks.

Klain's departure would be a significant change in the White House since he organizes Biden's schedule and drives his policy agenda.

The New York Times broke the story first, reporting that Klain would likely quit after the President's State of the Union address on February 7.

A precise timeline is yet unknown.

It is worth noting that Klain has been one of Biden's top aides for decades, first in the Senate and subsequently as Vice President.

He was also an advisor and speechwriter on Biden's unsuccessful presidential campaigns in 1988 and 2008.

The 61-year-old was previously a senior White House staffer to former President Barack Obama and Vice President Al Gore's Chief of Staff.

According to Reuters, Klain informed Biden of his plan to quit.

No successor has been reportedly chosen. Probable candidates include Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and another of Biden's senior aides, Anita Dunn, NYT reported.

This is happening amid the latest scandal involving the discovery of highly classified Obama-era documents that could lead to an open criminal investigation. It is worth noting that the FBI searched President Joe Biden's house in Wilmington, Delaware, on Friday and found additional documents with classified markings, as well as some of his handwritten notes, according to the President's counsel.