In a statement released on Sunday, Florida representative and Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman-Schultz released a statement concerning her future as the DNC’s leader ? specifically, that she doesn’t have a future in that job anymore.
In the aftermath of the incendiary Wikileaks data dump of thousands and thousands of internal DNC emails on Friday, which revealed apparent bias on the part of Wasserman-Schultz and the DNC in favor of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s primary candidacy, over that of Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, Wasserman-Schultz has decided to resign from her position following the Democratic National Convention this week, a move which Sanders called for on Sunday morning. Here’s her statement, in part:
“My first priority has always been serving the people of the 23rd district of Florida and I look forward to continuing to do that as their member of Congress for years to come. As the mother of my three amazing children and the Representative of Florida’s 23rd congressional district, I know that electing Hillary Clinton as our next president is critical for America’s future. I look forward to serving as a surrogate for her campaign in Florida and across the country to ensure her victory.
Going forward, the best way for me to accomplish those goals is to step down as Party Chair at the end of this convention. As Party Chair, this week I will open and close the Convention and I will address our delegates about the stake involved in this election not only for Democrats, but for all Americans. We have planned a great and unified Convention this week and I hope and expect that the DNC team that has worked so hard to get us to this point will have the strong support of all Democrats in making sure this is the best convention we ever had.
I’ve been proud to serve as the first woman nominated by a sitting president as Chair of the Democratic National Committee and I am confident that the strong team in place will lead our party effectively through this election to elect Hillary Clinton as our 45th president.”
Wasserman-Schultz’s resignation will bring to an end the longest tenure for a DNC chair since John Moran Bailey’s seven-year stint in the 1960s. According to ABC News, she’ll be replaced on an interim basis by DNC vice chair Donna Brazile, who also appears regularly on CNN.
Update 3:59pm CT, July 24: Hillary Clinton has issued a statement about Wasserman-Schultz stepping down following the DNC:
Hillary Clinton Statement on the Resignation of Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz pic.twitter.com/HkG9Ohufc2
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) July 24, 2016
Update 4:14pm CT, July 24: Bernie Sanders has issued a statement, calling Wasserman-Schultz’s decision the right one for the party.
Per @DannyEFreeman: @BernieSanders says DWS made the “right decision” to step down as chair of DNC: pic.twitter.com/B4NySIpf6n
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) July 24, 2016
