Jarrett: Obama has confidence in Wasserman Schultz

The head of the Democratic National Committee has the full confidence of President Obama, White House adviser Valerie Jarrett said in an interview Friday.

Jarrett said Obama is looking forward to seeing DNC Chairwoman Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Fla.) at a Washington event later on Friday.

{mosads}“The president will look forward to seeing her today and obviously he’s the leader of the Democratic Party, he appointed her not once but twice, and she has his full support,” Jarrett said.

Jarrett also said she spoke Thursday with Wasserman Schultz, the subject of a story in Politico this week that suggested the White House had lost all confidence in her.

“I spoke with her yesterday,” Jarrett said in an interview with American Urban Radio Network reporter April Ryan. “I have a great deal of respect and admiration for her, she works so hard. She travels all around our country.”

White House officials have pushed back at the notion of lost confidence in the last 24 hours, with first lady Michelle Obama praising the chairwoman on Thursday night as a “fabulous woman” and an “extraordinary DNC chair.”

The Politico story reported that Jarrett called the chairwoman in 2013 to chastise her for repeatedly asking the Democratic National Committee to pay for her clothing. Jarrett said in the story she did not recall that conversation. 

The story also alleges that an “infuriated” Jarrett called Wasserman Schultz to express disappointment that the chairwoman had her daughter sit in on an interview with one of the president’s preferred candidates to take over as the DNC’s next executive director. Anonymous sources familiar with the event described Jarrett calling the move “completely unprofessional and rude.”