Dr. feel-bad: Staff-bully WH science adviser quits

President Biden’s top science adviser, Dr. Eric Lander, resigned on Monday after an internal review found credible evidence that he bullied and demeaned his staffers.

Lander’s (below) announced departure from Office of Science and Technology Policy came after the White House earlier in the day said that he would be allowed to keep to his job — a decision that was at odds with Biden’s Day One vow to fire “on the spot” any staffers who mistreat colleagues.

“The President accepted Dr. Eric Lander’s resignation letter this evening with gratitude for his work at OSTP on the pandemic, the Cancer Moonshot, climate change, and other key priorities,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement Monday night.

“He knows that Dr. Lander will continue to make important contributions to the scientific community in the years ahead.”

The investigation into Lander was triggered last year by a workplace complaint from his then-general counsel, Rachel Wallace, Politico reported.

The review found that Lander treated staffers disrespectfully and violated the OTSP’s “Safe and Respectful Workplace Policy.”

Recordings and documents related to the probe obtained by Politico found that Lander had bullied other female staffers in addition to Wallace.

Of the roughly 140 staffers in Lander’s department, 14 current and former employees said they had experienced a toxic environment working under Lander. Nine of those staffers claimed Lander would yell and humiliate employees in front of their peers.

The review didn’t find evidence of gender-based discrimination and the reassignment of the staffer who filed the initial complaint last year was “appropriate,” according to the White House.

Lander apologized to his staffers on Friday and had been set to undergo counseling before he decided to quit.

“I have spoken to colleagues within OSTP in a disrespectful or demeaning way,” he said.

“I am deeply sorry for my conduct,” he added. “I especially want to apologize to those of you who I treated poorly, or were present at the time.”