Obama Friend Butts and Dem Aides Join White House

A long-time friend to President-elect Obama and a slew of Democratic congressional aides are Obama’s latest White House hires, the transition team announced Tuesday.

Cassandra Butts, a Harvard Law classmate of Obama, will serve as deputy White House counsel. She has advised him on the campaign and currently serves as general counsel for the transition team.

Rep. Rahm Emanuel’s (D-Ill.) chief of staff in his House office, Liz Sears Smith, will serve as deputy Cabinet secretary.

Katie McCormack Lelyveld, who has served as Michelle Obama’s communications director, will be her press secretary in the White House.

And Shawn Maher, a veteran aide to Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), will serve as Obama’s deputy director of legislative affairs in the Senate.

See Obama’s full press release about the new hires after the jump.

WASHINGTON