Tony West, the chief legal officer at Uber and brother-in-law of Vice President Kamala Harris, is taking an unpaid leave of absence starting August 17 to volunteer for Harris's presidential campaign. West has been a significant advisor in her campaign strategy and fundraising efforts since President Biden endorsed her following his re-election withdrawal. He has stated that he will act as a family-member surrogate, leveraging his long-standing relationship with Harris to support her candidacy. West's leave has raised concerns among some progressives due to his corporate background, yet he aims to return to Uber after the campaign. His involvement is critical as Harris seeks to assemble a team and explore vice presidential nominees ahead of the election. West previously served in high-profile legal positions and was involved in the Obama administration's Justice Department, further strengthening his political credentials.