Lateefah Simon, Harris mentee, speaks to VP's empathy as prosecutor

Lateefah Simon, who is running to replace retiring California Rep. Barbara Lee , cast the nominee’s career as a prosecutor in an empathetic light from the DNC stage during a primetime slot Wednesday.

Simon, who worked under Kamala Harris for about four years when she was San Francisco district attorney, described how the two women sought to reform the justice system and support rehabilitated offenders.

She described how Harris often consoled the victims of violent crimes.

“I saw Kamala Harris holding the hands of sexual assault survivors,” Simon said during her short but passionate speech.

“I saw scores of mothers who lost their babies to gun violence, lining up day after day at the courthouse, waiting only to speak to Kamala because they knew that she would hear them.”

Simon added, “She hears your story, she carries it with her. When she sees you, she truly sees you.”

Simon, who is favored to win Lee’s seat this fall, is widely seen as a rising star within Bay Area politics and the Democratic Party.

Aside from Harris’ immediate family, Simon is among her closest friends to speak at the convention.