A top science adviser to President Biden tendered his resignation on Monday night following reports that he had been investigated over a complaint that he mistreated staff.
Dr. Eric Lander handed in his resignation after an internal White House investigation found he had bullied his then-general counsel Rachel Wallace, Politico reported.
The investigation of the cabinet member had found "credible evidence" of him speaking "harshly and disrespectfully to colleagues in front of other colleagues," Politico reported.
During a press conference, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki confirmed that Lander had been investigated for his conduct.
"I am devastated that I caused hurt to past and present colleagues by the way in which I have spoken to them," Lander wrote in his resignation letter. "But it is clear that things I said, and the way I said them, crossed the line at times into being disrespectful and demeaning, to both men and women. That was never my intention. Nonetheless, it is my fault and my responsibility. I will take this lesson forward. I believe it is not possible to continue effectively in my role, and the work of this office is far too important to be hindered."
Lander served as the director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and a Science adviser. He is the first Cabinet-level member of the Biden administration to resign. He was also going to lead the relaunching of the "moonshot" initiative to combat cancer.
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