Shapiro Alleges Harris Team Asked If He Was Israeli Agent

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro says he was asked by Kamala Harris's team during the 2024 vice-presidential vetting process whether he had ever been "a double agent for Israel." The question, which Shapiro describes as offensive, appears in his upcoming memoir "Where We Keep the Light" and has raised questions about how the Harris campaign screened potential running mates.

Background

Shapiro was among several candidates seriously considered as Harris's running mate in 2024 after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race. As the only Jewish candidate on the final shortlist, Shapiro underwent an intensive vetting process typical for vice-presidential candidates. The screening included questions about his policy positions, past statements, and personal background.

The vetting was conducted by members of Harris's inner circle, including Dana Remus, who played a role in the candidate evaluation. Harris ultimately selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. The ticket went on to lose the general election to Donald Trump.

Key Details

The Questioned Asked

Late in the vetting process, members of Harris's team posed the question directly to Shapiro: had he ever been "a double agent for Israel?" When Shapiro pushed back against the question, he was told simply, "Well, we have to ask."

Following that exchange, Remus asked whether Shapiro had ever communicated with undercover Israeli operatives. Shapiro responded by pointing out the logical problem with the question: "If they were undercover, how would I know?"

The Broader Questioning

The questions about Israel were not limited to the double agent inquiry. Shapiro says he was repeatedly pressed on his record of supporting Israel, his public criticism of antisemitism on college campuses following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, and his handling of protests during the Israel-Hamas war.

Shapiro has written that he wondered whether similar questioning was applied to other candidates or whether the focus on Israel was specific to him. In his memoir, he states:

"I wondered whether these questions were being posed to just me — the only Jewish guy in the running — or if everyone who had not held a federal office was being grilled about Israel in the same way."

Beyond Israel-related matters, Shapiro says the vetting team challenged him on policy disagreements with Harris, including positions on energy policy, taxes, law enforcement, and decisions made during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Emotional Toll

Shapiro describes the vetting sessions as outwardly professional and businesslike on the surface, but emotionally taxing. Despite acknowledging that Remus was doing her job, Shapiro says the line of questioning troubled him deeply. He wrote that the focus on Israel "said a lot about some of the people around the VP."

"These sessions were completely professional and businesslike," Shapiro recalls in his memoir. "But I just had a knot in my stomach through all of it."

Shapiro ultimately withdrew himself from consideration for the vice-presidential position, concluding that the vetting process was not unfolding on his family's terms.

What This Means

Shapiro's account raises questions about the vetting standards applied during the 2024 campaign and whether candidates faced different levels of scrutiny based on their religion or background. The governor's description of the questioning process has drawn attention to how campaigns evaluate potential running mates and what criteria they use.

The revelation comes as Shapiro prepares to release his memoir later this month. His account provides an inside look at the behind-the-scenes dynamics of the vice-presidential selection process and the tensions that emerged between his team and Harris's advisers over policy and other matters.

Shapiro's experience during the vetting process also highlights broader conversations about how public figures, particularly those from minority backgrounds, are questioned about their loyalty and allegiances during high-stakes political decisions.