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Biden to tap former ambassador to France as his ambassador to the UK after lengthy search
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(CNN) President Joe Biden will name Jane Hartley as his ambassador to the United Kingdom after a lengthy search, a person familiar with the decision told CNN.
Hartley, the former US ambassador to France, has not been officially named as Biden’s choice for ambassador to the Court of St. James, but the decision has been made internally, the source said. Biden has spent months searching for a candidate to fill the prestigious role, a process that has been the subject of considerable discussion on both sides of the Atlantic.
At least two candidates turned it down, including former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, for unstated reasons, according to a separate person.
Hartley was a major fundraiser for former President Barack Obama, and to a lesser extent for Biden. Her tenure in Paris coincided with a major terrorist attack in the French capital in 2015, during which she coordinated extensively with Washington to manage diplomatic assistance.
After the attack, Obama drew widespread criticism for not attending a peace march in Paris that drew other major world leaders, including of the United Kingdom and Germany. He sent Hartley instead, widely viewed as a poor substitute for himself or Biden. The White House later admitted it was a mistake.
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Biden to nominate Jane Hartley to be U.S. Ambassador to Britain - Washington Post
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FILE PPHOTO: U.S. Ambassador to France Jane Hartley poses before attending the Spring/Summer 2016 women’s ready-to-wear collection show for Dior fashion house during the Fashion Week in Paris, France, October 2, 2015. REUTERS/Charles Platiau
WASHINGTON, July 16 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden will nominate Jane Hartley, a former ambassador to France, to serve as ambassador to Britain, the Washington Post reported on Friday, citing two people with knowledge of the decision.
A White House spokesperson declined to comment.
The role is considered one of the most prestigious ambassador postings for a U.S. president to fill.
Hartley was a campaign bundler for former President Barack Obama, raising more than $500,000 for his reelection bid in 2012.
Reporting by Tim Ahmann, Trevor Hunnicutt, and Jan Wolfe; Editing by Alex Richardson
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