Cecily Zamora
Kamala Harris, the former Vice President of the United States, has a brother-in-law named Tony West. West is a prominent figure in American politics and business. He is married to Maya Harris, Kamala Harris' sister, and has a stepdaughter, Meena Harris. West has had a successful career, serving as an attorney for former President Bill Clinton and as the associate attorney general under Barack Obama. He also worked at Uber, where he played a key role in legislation regarding the status of its drivers. In addition, West has been involved in Kamala Harris' political campaigns, serving as an advisor and co-chair of her transition team.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Tony West |
| Relationship to Kamala Harris | Brother-in-law |
| Spouse | Maya Harris, sister of Kamala Harris |
| Step-daughter | Meena Harris |
| Profession | Attorney |
| Political affiliation | Democratic Party |
| Advisor to Kamala Harris' 2024 presidential campaign | Yes |
| Co-chair of Kamala Harris' transition team | Yes |
| Chief lawyer for Uber | Yes |
| Served in the Department of Justice | Yes |
| Served as Assistant Attorney General | Yes |
| First African-American Assistant Attorney General | Yes |
| Head of the Civil Division of the Department of Justice | Yes |
| Involvement in taxpayer-funded scandal | Alleged |
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What You'll Learn
Tony West is Kamala Harris's brother-in-law
West has served in several prominent roles within the Democratic Party and the U.S. government. He worked as chief of staff to the finance chair of the California Democratic Party and as a Special Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the California Attorney General under Bill Lockyer from 1999 to 2001. During the Obama administration, West served in the Department of Justice and played a key role in the investigation and filing of a civil lawsuit against the credit rating agency Standard & Poor's Rating Services. In 2014, he represented the United States at the U.N.'s International Conference on Access to Legal Aid in the Criminal Justice Systems in South Africa.
West has also been involved in Harris's political campaigns. He served as an advisor to her 2024 presidential campaign and co-chaired her transition team in 2016. West has been described as a powerful and trusted adviser to Harris, helping her take control of her campaign and steer its messaging towards a more business-friendly approach.
West has been at the centre of some controversy, with some alleging that he engineered the "greatest transfer of taxpayer dollars to left-wing groups" in U.S. history. This involved awarding large settlements to groups aligned with the Democrats, even when the Department of Justice appeared to be winning cases. West has defended these actions, stating that they were necessary to address racial politics and support indigent legal defence.
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West is married to Maya Harris, Kamala's sister
Tony West is the brother-in-law of former Vice President Kamala Harris. West is married to Maya Harris, Kamala's sister. West and Maya Harris tied the knot in July 1998. West is a graduate of Stanford Law School, where he served as the president of the Stanford Law Review. He has been a prominent figure in Democratic politics, working as chief of staff to the finance chair of the California Democratic Party and serving as a Special Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the California Attorney General. West has also been involved in legal defence initiatives and represented the United States at the U.N.'s International Conference on Access to Legal Aid in the Criminal Justice Systems in South Africa in 2014.
West played a significant role in Kamala Harris' political campaigns, serving as an advisor and co-chair of her transition team. He has been described as a key campaign adviser, leveraging his influence to steer the campaign's messaging and strategy. West's involvement in Kamala Harris' campaigns has sparked some concerns among Democrats, who worry that his prominent role might recreate family dynamics that caused unnecessary drama in previous campaigns.
West has also faced scrutiny for his actions as the head of the Justice Department's Civil Division. He has been accused of orchestrating the transfer of taxpayer dollars to left-wing groups through settlements, even when the Department of Justice was in a favourable position to win cases. West's settlements have been criticised as being influenced by racial politics and resulting in excessive payments to plaintiffs.
West currently serves as Uber's chief lawyer and has spoken at the DNC, using his platform to vouch for Harris' character. West's role as Kamala Harris' brother-in-law and his political and legal career have brought him into the public eye, with his actions being closely scrutinised and sparking debates.
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West is Uber's chief lawyer
Tony West, the brother-in-law of former US Vice President Kamala Harris, is Uber's chief lawyer and senior vice president. West is a prominent attorney and former government official. He joined Uber in 2017 as General Counsel, and his role expanded to include the position of Chief Legal Officer.
West has an impressive legal career spanning several decades. After graduating from Stanford Law School in 1992, he worked in Democratic politics, serving as chief of staff to the finance chair of the California Democratic Party. He was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1993 and has since held various legal and political roles. West served as a Special Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the California Attorney General from 1999 to 2001. He then worked as an Assistant United States Attorney and later as Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Division at the Department of Justice (DOJ) from 2009 to 2012. During his time at the DOJ, West played a pivotal role in the decision to cease defending the Defense of Marriage Act, deeming it unconstitutional.
West's tenure at Uber has been marked by substantial raises and leadership resilience. In 2020, his first year as an executive officer, he received $12.3 million in total compensation. West's compensation continued to increase, reaching approximately $12.7 million in 2024, despite taking a three-month unpaid leave to support Harris's presidential campaign. The surge in his compensation was primarily driven by stock awards and cash, reflecting the strategic value he brings to Uber's legal landscape.
West's legal expertise has been sought in various sectors. Before joining Uber, he served as Executive Vice President of Government Affairs, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary at PepsiCo from 2014 to 2017. Additionally, West has demonstrated a commitment to legal defence, representing the United States at the UN's International Conference on Access to Legal Aid in 2014. He has also held positions on several boards, including the Stanford Law School Board of Visitors and the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund Board of Directors.
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West served as an advisor to Kamala Harris' 2024 presidential campaign
Kamala Harris' brother-in-law, Tony West, served as an advisor to her 2024 presidential campaign. West is a prominent lawyer and Democratic politician. He is married to Harris' sister, Maya Harris, and is the stepfather to her daughter, Meena Harris. West has had a long career in law and politics, having earned his Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School in 1992. He has served as a finance director for the Democratic Governors Association, chief of staff to the finance chair of the California Democratic Party, and Special Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the California Attorney General.
West played a significant role in Harris' 2024 presidential campaign, helping her take control of the campaign's strategy and messaging. He was a key adviser, steering the campaign towards a more business-friendly approach and focusing on "freedom" and the future. West's role was described as informal but influential, and he was frequently by Harris' side during campaign rallies and communications with the campaign's leadership.
West has also held several important positions in the Department of Justice. He served as Assistant Attorney General, heading the Civil Division of the department. In this role, he oversaw investigations and lawsuits, such as the filing of a civil lawsuit against the credit rating agency Standard & Poor's Rating Services for defrauding investors. West also led the department's commitment to supporting indigent legal defense and represented the United States at the U.N.'s International Conference on Access to Legal Aid in 2014.
However, West has also been involved in some controversies. He was accused of engineering the "greatest transfer of taxpayer dollars to left-wing groups" by awarding settlements to groups aligned with the Democrats. This led to accusations of creating a slush fund and using settlements to pay off political allies. Despite this controversy, West remains a trusted adviser to Harris and played an important role in her 2024 presidential campaign.
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West is an attorney and has worked for the US government
Kamala Harris's brother-in-law, Tony West, is an attorney who has worked for the US government. West married Maya Harris, the sister of former Vice President Kamala Harris, in July 1998. He is also the stepfather to her daughter, Meena Harris. West earned his Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School in 1992, where he served as the president of the Stanford Law Review.
West has had a long career in law and politics, working in both the private and public sectors. After graduating, he continued his work in Democratic politics, working as chief of staff to the finance chair of the California Democratic Party. From 1992 to 1993, he worked in private practice as an associate at the Bingham McCutchen San Jose office. In 1993, he was admitted to the State Bar of California and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. West also served as a finance director to the Democratic Governors Association until 1989.
West has also held several positions within the US government. From 1999 to 2001, he served as a Special Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the California Attorney General under Bill Lockyer. During the Obama administration, West served in the Department of Justice, becoming the first African-American Assistant Attorney General and heading the Civil Division. In this role, he led investigations and lawsuits, such as the one against the credit rating agency Standard & Poor's Rating Services for defrauding investors. West also represented the United States at the U.N.'s International Conference on Access to Legal Aid in the Criminal Justice Systems in South Africa in 2014.
In addition to his legal work, West has been involved in political campaigns. He served as an advisor to Kamala Harris's 2024 presidential campaign and co-chaired her transition team. West played a significant role in shaping the campaign's messaging towards a more business-friendly approach. He has also been described as a powerful and influential adviser to Harris, helping her take control of the campaign and communicate with its leadership.
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Frequently asked questions
Kamala Harris's brother-in-law is Tony West, an attorney and Uber executive.
West has been a key adviser to Harris, having advised her on debate prep, donor relations, and VP vetting. He also co-chaired her transition team and served as an advisor to her 2024 presidential campaign.
West served as a finance director to the Democratic Governors Association until 1989. He then worked in private practice and later became a special assistant attorney general in the Office of the California Attorney General. West has also held top positions in the Justice Department and corporate America.
