Former Democratic fundraiser says Harris courted donors while claiming loyalty to Biden

Lindy Li, who previously raised money for both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, told a reporter that Harris was secretly positioning herself to inherit Biden’s donor base while publicly insisting she would back the president. Li described a fabricated staff rule that barred discussion of Harris’s possible nomination and recounted a donor call on July 19 where Harris denied any chance of Biden dropping out. After Biden announced his withdrawal on July 21, Harris immediately began a flurry of personal outreach, presenting herself as Biden’s endorsed successor, though the president’s endorsement arrived only half an hour later.

Li said many top donors recognized the contradiction and called the episode a “charade.” Harris’s representatives have not responded to requests for comment.