Vice President Kamala Harris has tapped her brother-in-law, Tony West, to join her presidential campaign as an adviser. West, a former attorney in the Obama Justice Department, has a notable past, having defended convicted terrorist John Walker Lindh.
Lindh, also known as the “American Taliban,” was released from prison in 2019 after serving 17 years of a 20-year sentence. At the time of his release, he sparked controversy by expressing pride in his involvement in the Afghan jihad and praising the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL).
West’s defense of Lindh has raised eyebrows, particularly given the terrorist’s unrepentant stance on his actions. Lindh’s early release was the result of a plea agreement, which was met with criticism from then-President Donald Trump, who stated, “I don’t like it at all.”
The addition of West to Harris’s campaign team comes as the Democratic National Committee (DNC) has officially nominated her as the party’s presidential candidate. However, the move has been met with criticism from some quarters, with 14 million Democrats having voted for President Joe Biden in the primary.
In another significant development, David Plouffe, the mastermind behind former President Barack Obama’s campaign, has also joined Harris’s team as a senior adviser. Plouffe’s involvement is seen as a significant boost to Harris’s campaign, given his experience and expertise in presidential politics.
