16:14Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro addresses supporters at a rally where he announced his reelection campaign at the Alan Horwitz “Sixth Man” Center on January 8, 2026, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Matthew Hatcher/Getty Images
In an upcoming memoir, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro revealed that the vetting team for Vice President Kamala Harris during her 2024 presidential campaign inquired if he had ever served as an agent for the Israeli government, as confirmed by ABC News.
The New York Times was the first to report on Shapiro’s assertion.
In his memoir, titled “Where We Keep the Light,” set to be published on January 27, Shapiro recounts that Dana Remus, a former White House counsel and a member of the vetting committee, posed the question to him at the last minute about whether he had ever acted as an agent for Israel. He stated that he found this inquiry to be offensive, according to excerpts shared by The New York Times.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro addresses supporters at a rally where he announced his reelection campaign at the Alan Horwitz “Sixth Man” Center on January 8, 2026, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Matthew Hatcher/Getty Images
He also detailed that Remus inquired if he had ever communicated with an undercover Israeli agent, to which Shapiro replied, in part, that if they were undercover, “how the hell would I know?”
In his memoir, Shapiro acknowledged that while he understood Remus was fulfilling her role, he criticized the nature of the questions asked, according to the excerpts.
As a Jewish individual who has been vocal about his faith, as well as his support for Israel and criticism of the current Israeli administration, Shapiro mentioned that he was also asked broader vetting questions regarding Israel and his management of campus protests related to Gaza.
"I questioned whether these inquiries were directed solely at me — the only Jewish candidate in the running — or if others who had not held federal office were being questioned about Israel similarly," Shapiro expressed, according to the excerpts.
ABC News has reached out to representatives for Shapiro and Harris, as well as to Remus regarding the questions she reportedly posed to Shapiro.
While Shapiro was considered a possible choice for Harris’ running mate amid significant discussions within the Democratic Party concerning the Israel-Hamas conflict and the U.S.-Israel relationship in light of Israel’s actions in Gaza, he encountered criticism from progressives over his pro-Israel stance, as well as for previous volunteer work in Israel, including service on an Israeli military base.
He also faced inquiries regarding his college writings on the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, where he expressed skepticism about the prospects for a peace agreement between Palestinians and Israel.
Shapiro and his representatives stated at the time that his volunteer work did not involve military activities and that his views on the conflict had shifted towards endorsing a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian issue.
Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro visit Old San Juan Cafe in Reading, PA, on November 4, 2024. Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images
The running mate vetting process is known for its rigorous nature and often aims to anticipate questions that may arise publicly concerning the candidates.
In her memoir, “107 Days,” Harris mentioned that during the vetting of potential running mates, she discussed with Shapiro “how to manage the criticisms he faced regarding Gaza and what impact it could have on the enthusiasm we were trying to cultivate,” along with their conversation about an opinion piece Shapiro wrote in college.
"He expressed that he felt he had effectively addressed critics by making it clear that his youthful perspective had been misguided and that he was
Sourse: abcnews.go.com