Democratic party chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz announced her resignation on the eve of convention.
Schultz has said she will step down as Democratic National Committee chairwoman at the end of party’s convention following WikiLeaks’ revelations indicating the committee plotted against Bernie Sanders.
The Wikileaks proved Sanders’ claims that she and other top brass in the DNC actively worked against him to stall his bid to be presidential nominee for the party.
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The Independent reports:
Ms Wasserman Schultz’s announcement follows a massive row over hacked emails that suggested the Democratic National Committee (DNC) favoured Ms Clinton during the primary, despite pledging neutrality. The leaked emails prompted primary runner-up MrSanders to call for Wasserman Schultz’s immediate resignation.
In a statement, Ms Wasserman Schultz said she will step down at the end of the four-day convention. She said she plans to formally open and close the convention, as well as address delegates, but will not make a lengthy address.
Her statement does not address the email controversy.
Mr Sanders issued his own statement, saying he welcomed the move. “Debbie Wasserman Schultz has made the right decision for the future of the Democratic Party. The party leadership must always remain impartial in the presidential nominating process, something which did not occur in the 2016 race,” he said.
Ms Wasserman Schultz’s swift ouster underscores party leaders desire to avoid convention confrontations with Mr Sanders’ loyal supporters, the Associated Press said. The chairwoman has been a lightning rod for criticism throughout the presidential campaign, with Mr Sanders repeatedly accusing the DNC of backing Clinton.
Her statement does not address the email controversy.
Mr Sanders issued his own statement, saying he welcomed the move. “Debbie Wasserman Schultz has made the right decision for the future of the Democratic Party. The party leadership must always remain impartial in the presidential nominating process, something which did not occur in the 2016 race,” he said.
Ms Wasserman Schultz’s swift ouster underscores party leaders desire to avoid convention confrontations with Mr Sanders’ loyal supporters, the Associated Press said. The chairwoman has been a lightning rod for criticism throughout the presidential campaign, with Mr Sanders repeatedly accusing the DNC of backing Clinton.
Mr Sanders said the 19,000 emails published by the website Wikileaks appeared to confirm his suspicions. In one leaked email, a DNC official wondered whether Sanders’ religious beliefs could be used against him, questioning whether the candidate may be an atheist.
“Nobody has apologised. But this does not come as a surprise to me or my supporters. There is no doubt that the DNC was on Secretary Clinton’s campaign from day one,” Mr Sanders on Sunday told NBC.
Mr Sanders had pressed for Ms Wasserman Schultz to quit as chairwoman immediately. He also suggested that Ms Clinton’s choice of running mate, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, was a disappointment and that he would have preferred Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, a favourite of liberals
