Puppeteer departs [The Intercept] Two of Rep. Alexandria-Ocasio Cortez's top staffers are leaving her office.
Saikat Chakrabarti, her chief of staff, and Corbin Trent, her director of communications ‐ who, through their work with Justice Democrats, have been alongside Ocasio-Cortez since her primary run ‐ will leave the lawmaker's office. Chakrabarti will go to New Consensus, a nonprofit focused on climate issues and promoting the Green New Deal. Trent will direct communications on Ocasio-Cortez's 2020 campaign, the same role he played during her first congressional run.
Saikat made the mistake of saying aloud that the GND was never about climate. It was a first step in remaking American society
"Saikat has decided to leave the office of Rep. Ocasio-Cortez to work with New Consensus to further develop plans for a Green New Deal," Trent said in a statement to The Intercept. "We are extraordinarily grateful for his service to advance a bold agenda and improve the lives of the people in NY-14. From his co-founding of Justice Democrats to his work on the Ocasio-Cortez campaign and in the official office, Saikat's goal has always been to do whatever he can to help the larger progressive movement, and we look forward to continuing working with him to do just that."