In early 2019, Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) faced significant scrutiny regarding her management style and treatment of subordinates as she launched her 2020 presidential campaign. These allegations reached a flashpoint following reports of a 2008 incident in which the Senator reportedly ate a salad with a hair comb after berating an aide for failing to provide utensils. Beyond this specific anecdote, multiple media outlets reported a broader pattern of behavior characterized by “fear, anger, and shame.” Senator Klobuchar and her campaign have responded by characterizing her management style as “tough” with “high expectations,” while maintaining that these anonymous accounts do not reflect the experiences of her entire staff.
The 2008 “Comb” Incident
According to reports originally published by The New York Times and cited by NBC News, a specific incident occurred in 2008 while Senator Klobuchar was traveling to South Carolina.
- Circumstances: A staff member purchased a salad for the Senator at an airport but failed to procure utensils. Upon boarding the flight, no utensils were available.
- Action taken: Klobuchar reportedly berated the aide for the oversight. She then retrieved a comb from her bag and used it to eat the salad.
Aftermath: Following the meal, Klobuchar allegedly commanded the aide to clean the comb. - Verification: This account was based on the testimony of four individuals familiar with the episode.
Broader Workplace Culture
Beyond individual anecdotes, several investigative reports characterized the Senator’s office as a hostile work environment:
Source
- HuffPost: Reported that allegations of mistreatment were significant enough to deter potential candidates from managing her presidential campaign.
- BuzzFeed News: Described a workplace “controlled by fear, anger, and shame,” labeling the environment “intolerably cruel.”
- The New York Times: Noted that the Senator had previously told an “abridged” version of the comb story to certain audiences.
Conclusion of Findings
REFERENCE: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/klobuchar-ate-her-salad-comb-report-says-n974746
