As I’m sure you’ll recall, the lowlight of the recent White House Correspondents Association weekend of dinners and revelry centered around an unfortunate spat that transpired at the Paramount party held at the French Ambassador’s residence, in Kalorama. It involved a row at the entrance between Jessica Hoy, a 41-year-old publicist who represented Ashley Biden, among others, and media rainmaker Tammy Haddad. But the worst part may have transpired after the event, when Playbook published a brief piece backhandedly discrediting Hoy. A nameless White House official told the publication that Hoy had never been employed by the first daughter, who is a fashion designer. “She was not hired by Ashley,” the official said. “They don’t have a formal relationship.” 

But, based on my reporting, that’s splitting hairs, and it unfairly diminishes Hoy’s role and work for the first daughter and her own professional bona fides. When I reached out to the same White House official this morning, that person insisted (on background) that, sure, Hoy and Ashley had done work together, but that she has never represented Biden—a distinction that seems rather pedantic. “Ashley described [Hoy] as someone who was trying to coordinate discrete events and projects,” the official told me. 

Indeed, Hoy did coordinate many events for Ashley Biden. Leading up to the weekend, Hoy fielded party requests for her client, including coordinating with the Secret Service, according to emails that I reviewed. Hoy also organized a “care package” for Biden from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle that needed to go through the Secret Service to be delivered to her townhouse, according to emails. She wrote her bio for a speech before the Rotary Club. She confirmed her attendance at the Advance Peace Forum, in San Diego. She even made a powerpoint presentation titled, “Brain Aware Neurobiology of the [B]rain” for Biden to submit for fundraising.