Even before these hacked emails surfaced online, Schultz had already made herself the target of Sanders supporters’ ire, having always been perceived as an ardent Hillary fan determined to sabotage the Vermont senator’s long-shot chance at securing the Democratic presidential nomination.
Advertisement
In a statement, Wasserman Schultz says she still plans to fulfill her duties formally opening and closing the convention in Philadelphia.
The Democratic National Convention officially opens Monday with all eyes on whether the party can heal from a bitter primary and counter Donald Trump’s performance at the GOP convention last week in Cleveland.
The outgoing chair of the Democratic Party was booed as she spoke to delegates from Florida, her home state, this morning.
“She should resign, period”, Sanders told ABC’s “This Week”. Perhaps part of the calculation was that Wasserman Schultz represented South Florida, a Democrat-rich area of a critical swing state in the upcoming election. He said that he wanted Wasserman-Schultz to resign from her position as DNC chair.
Sanders’ campaign manager Jeff Weaver said he was hopeful that “everybody acts respectfully”.
Even so, seeing the words on the page will leave a bitter taste in the mouths of Sanders supporters who were on the verge of following the Vermont senator into the Clinton camp.
According to a Democratic operative, Housing Secretary Julian Castro was being discussed by Hispanic leaders close to Clinton and her inner circle.
“You will never hear me say I only listen to myself on national security”, she said. Interim DNC Chair Donna Brazile spoke to a black caucus meeting Monday, and Vice Chair R.T. Rybak spoke to the Minnesota and MI delegations Tuesday morning. A CNN source said Brazile “will keep all her on-air commitments to us this week”.
“On behalf of everyone at the DNC, we want to offer a deep and honest apology to Sen”.
Wasserman Schultz added: “This has been a hard week, no question about it”, but that “sometimes you just have to take one for the team, and that’s OK”.
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz heads the DNC.
Seeking to avoid a televised display of disunity, Bernie Sanders on Monday urged supporters to line up behind Democrat Hillary Clinton and claimed victory in deposing and sidelining a top party official.
Schultz said Sunday she will officially step down from her position as DNC chairwoman after the convention concludes on Thursday, but in the meantime, Rep. Marcia Fudge of OH, an avid Clinton supporter, is predicted to become the official chairwoman for the convention.
Clinton campaign officials pointed the finger at Russian military intelligence agencies.
Kingson said he was happy that Wasserman Schultz resigned Sunday, and decided not to gavel the contention to order as originally planned on Monday. The soon-to-be former chairwoman has a well-earned reputation as a political knife-fighter with a knack for fundraising.
Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, will preside over the four-day convention.
Advertisement
CNN later acknowledged that Lewandowski was still receiving severance payments from the Trump campaign while he was appearing on the air.
