Mr. Siskel’s background includes a nearly four-year tenure in the White House Counsel’s Office during the Obama administration, culminating in his role as Deputy Counsel.
His arrival coincides with special counsel investigations into the president’s alleged mishandling of classified documents, the president’s eldest son Hunter Biden, and multiple inquiries by House Republicans into the president, his son, and the origins of COVID-19.
Additionally, some Republican legislators are pressing for the president’s impeachment.
“Ed Siskel’s many years of experience in public service and a career defending the rule of law make him the perfect choice to serve as my next White House Counsel,” President Joe Biden said according to the White House announcement.
According to the statement, in his capacity as White House Counsel, Mr. Siskel will head a team that provides legal advice to the president on various issues affecting the administration.
This includes policy formulation and executive actions and working to safeguard and promote the president’s agenda.
President Biden went on to say of his pick, “For nearly four years in the White House when I was vice president, he helped the Counsel’s Office navigate complex challenges and advance the president’s agenda on behalf of the American people, and first as a federal prosecutor and then as the top counsel for one of America’s biggest and most vibrant cities, his hometown of Chicago, Ed has shown a deep commitment to public service and respect for the law.
“His experience will let him hit the ground running as a key leader on my team as we continue making progress for the American people every day.”
During his tenure in the Obama White House Counsel’s Office, Mr. Siskel directed the White House’s legal responses to numerous ObamaCare challenges.
After leaving that position, Mr. Siskel served as Corporation Counsel in Chicago under Mayor Rahm Emanuel, overseeing a substantial legal team. He also held the position of chief legal officer for a Chicago-based investment firm.
Prior to his White House tenure, Mr. Siskel worked at the Justice Department as an associate deputy attorney general and senior counsel to the Deputy Attorney General.
He has prior experience as a federal prosecutor and clerked for Justice John Paul Stevens at the U.S. Supreme Court.
The attorney, a Chicago native, graduated from Wesleyan University and the University of Chicago Law School, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review.
During his time with the administration, Mr. Delery provided legal guidance to President Biden in navigating the legal aspects of his pandemic response, addressing Republican inquiries, and formulating legislative initiatives.
Following President Biden’s victory over the incumbent President Donald Trump in November 2020, Mr. Delery became a member of the Biden transition legal team. Before assuming his position as legal counsel, Mr. Delery held the role of deputy counsel.
He was subsequently promoted to the highest position in the summer following the departure of Dana Remus, who served as President Biden’s initial counsel in the White House.
The White House issued a statement about Mr. Delery’s departure, saying: “Stuart Delery has been a trusted adviser and a constant source of innovative legal thinking since Day One of my Administration.
“From his work during those early days on COVID-19 and efforts to get life-saving vaccines to the American public to the implementation of major legislative accomplishments such as the American Rescue Plan, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the Inflation Reduction Act, he has been an integral part of my team and will be missed throughout the administration.
“I extend my thanks to Stuart and his family for his service.”
