The White House has announced that Stuart Delery, the top lawyer for President Biden, will be leaving next month after nearly three years of service.
Delery first joined Biden's transition team in November 2020 and later became deputy counsel before being promoted to the top job in 2022. In a statement, President Biden praised Delery as a "trusted adviser and a constant source of innovative legal thinking" and thanked him and his family for their service.
Delery's departure comes at a time when House Republicans are continuing to investigate President Biden and his family. These investigations include inquiries into Biden's son Hunter and the origins of COVID-19. Some Republican lawmakers are even pushing for the president's impeachment, although this proposal lacks mainstream support.
In addition to these investigations, Attorney General Merrick Garland has appointed a special counsel to look into the presence of classified documents found in Biden's possession at two different locations. Biden's personal lawyer, Bob Bauer, is handling this matter, while the White House has assigned about two dozen aides to work on the other investigations.
The White House has not yet announced who will be replacing Delery as counsel. However, an unidentified White House official has stated that his departure had been planned for some time.
During his time as deputy counsel and later as chief White House lawyer, Delery played a crucial role in advising President Biden on significant legislative accomplishments, such as the American Rescue Plan and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. He also contributed to the administration's efforts to implement new rules at the U.S.-Mexico border to address illegal crossings.
It is worth noting that Delery was involved in crafting President Biden's executive order on student loan forgiveness, which was ultimately struck down by the Supreme Court. The administration argued that the COVID-19 pandemic constituted an emergency that allowed the education secretary to waive or modify statutory provisions, including student loan debt. However, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the administration had exceeded its constitutional authority with this proposal.
As Delery prepares to leave his position, White House chief of staff Jeff Zients has asked Cabinet members and senior officials to decide by the end of the summer whether they will remain in their positions through 2024 and the election cycle.
The departure of Stuart Delery marks a significant change within the White House legal team as President Biden faces ongoing investigations and challenges from House Republicans. The search for his replacement will undoubtedly be a crucial decision for the administration as it navigates these turbulent times.
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