Two more Harris aides leaving in addition to Sanders

Two more aides working in Vice President Harris’s office are expected to leave their roles in the coming weeks in addition to the two high-profile exits of her press secretary and communications director, a source familiar with the departures confirmed to The Hill

Peter Velz, who is the vice president’s director of press operations, and Vince Evans, the deputy director of the Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs for Harris, are planning to leave those positions soon, the source confirmed.

Harris’ office declined to comment. The Washington Post first reported on their impending exits. 

The departure of Velz and Evans, who are expected to take new jobs in or close to the Biden administration, comes on the heels of news that Symone Sanders, Harris’s press secretary, will leave the administration. Officials suggested Sanders had long planned to leave at the end of 2021.

Sanders is the highest-profile exit to date from the vice president’s office, which has been beset by reports of dysfunction and frustration about her role in the administration. Sanders was the most visible voice in pushing back on those reports, and she has been a prominent surrogate for Democrats dating back to the 2020 presidential campaign, when she worked for then-candidate Joe Biden.

Harris’s communications director, Ashley Etienne, will also be leaving her White House role this month. Etienne previously served as communications director for Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and worked in the Obama administration before that.

Amie Parnes contributed to this report, which was updated at 12:38 p.m.