Senior Biden Communications Director Announces White House Departure

The White House is seen at sunrise, from the South Lawn Driveway in Washington, on Dec. 7, 2021. Tom Brenner/Reuters

A senior White House communications adviser announced Monday she is leaving her post in the near future and will move to the private sector—the latest messaging official to depart the Biden administration.

Mariel Saez, White House director of broadcast media, confirmed to media outlets she is leaving the White House. Previously, she worked as an aide to Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and was employed by President Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign.

“It has been an honor to serve the President as Director of Broadcast Media, and I’m grateful to my talented and dedicated colleagues at the White House and across the Administration who worked hand-in-hand with me to communicate the President’s priorities across broadcast media,” she said in a statement.

Saez is considered a key official in the Biden administration’s messaging strategy as she would coordinate interviews for White House officials and mainstream news outlets like ABC, CBS, Fox, and CNN.

White House communications director Kate Bedingfield responded to Saez’s departure, saying that she is an “invaluable member of our team,” according to a statement to CNN.

“Her strategic advice and counsel, close relationships with the networks, hard work, and dedication served the President, the Vice President, and the entire Biden-Harris Administration so well,” Bedingfield said.

Vice President Kamala Harris has seen several key members leave her office since last summer, including digital strategies director Rajun Kaur, chief spokesperson Symone Sanders, director of advance Karly Satkowiak, director of press operations Peter Velz.

Sanders, who worked on Biden’s campaign, said in January that she would be joining left-wing outlet MSNBC.

“Well I guess I have some news to share this morning. I am excited to join @MSNBC and @TheChoice! I look forward to working with some of the most talented and amazing people in news,” she wrote on social media at the time.

Saez’s departure announcement comes one day after NBC News aired an interview with Biden during the Super Bowl on Sunday.

Biden told NBC anchor Lester Holt that he has evaluated “about four” potential Supreme Court nominees to replace retiring Justice Stephen Breyer.

“I think whomever I pick will get a vote from the Republican side for the following reason: I’m not looking to make an ideological choice here,” Biden said. “I am looking for someone that can replace Judge Breyer with the same kind of capacity that Judge Breyer had, with an open mind, who understands the Constitution, interprets it in a way that is consistent with the mainstream interpretation of the Constitution,” he added, without elaborating.