DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz to resign after convention

Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz speaks on stage during the final day of the Democratic National Convention at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina. This file photo taken on September 05, 2012. (photos by AFP)

The chairwoman of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) says she will step down after the party’s convention in the run-up to the US 2016 presidential election.
Florida Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz made the announcement on Sunday after email leaks from within the Democratic Party showed officials had tried to undermine the campaign of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders in favor of his rival, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
"Going forward, the best way for me to accomplish those goals is to step down as party chair at the end of this convention,” she said in a statement.
The Democratic National Convention is set to take place at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from July 25 to 28.
"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 have ever had," Wasserman said. “As party chair, this week I will open and close the convention and I will address our delegates about the stakes involved in this election not only for Democrats, but for all Americans."
Meanwhile, Ohio Representative Marcia Fudge (pictured below) was assigned to serve as the convention chair this week in Philadelphia.

Fudge said she was "happy to serve" and was looking forward to a "great convention and our ongoing efforts as we work together for a strong party and a successful election."
No fair operation at DNC
The Vermont senator was infuriated after the WikiLeaks released the emails on Friday, proving that DNC officials had privately made plans to undermine his campaign.
She "should not be chair of the DNC, and I think these emails reiterate that reason why she should not be chair," said Sanders, who has already announced official endorsement for Clinton.

Bernie Sanders makes a point July 12, 2016 at a rally in Portsmouth, New Hampshire where he endorsed presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

"I think she should resign, period, and I think we need a new chair that's going to lead us in a new direction," he added.
Sanders said he was not “shocked” by the emails as he knew from the beginning that the party was supporting the former first lady.
"Well, I think I told you a long time ago that the DNC was not running a fair operation — that they were supporting Secretary Clinton. So what I suggested to be true six months ago turns out, in fact, to be true," he said. "I'm not shocked by it, but I'm disappointed."
No political revolution
GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, meanwhile, took the opportunity to sow more discord among the Democrats, saying Sanders’ "political revolution" had ended up fruitless.
"There is no longer a Bernie Sanders 'political revolution.' He is turning out to be a weak and somewhat pathetic figure, wants it all to end!" Trump tweeted.

Activists including hundreds of environmentalists and Bernie Sanders supporters march through downtown before the start of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) on July 24, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

In another tweet he said, "Sorry folks, but Bernie Sanders is exhausted, just can't go on any longer. He is trying to dismiss the new e-mails and DNC disrespect. SAD!"
In one of the emails, dated May 2, DNC press secretary Mark Paustenbach wrote to communications director Luis Miranda about how to make the US media portray Sanders’s campaign as one in “a mess.”


Debbie Wasserman Schultz says she is stepping down as Democratic Party chairwoman at the end of this week's convention.
The Florida congresswoman has been under fire following the publication of hacked emails suggesting the Democratic National Committee favoured Hillary Clinton in the presidential primaries.
That prompted runner-up Bernie Sanders to call today for Wasserman Schultz's immediate resignation.
In a statement, Wasserman Schultz says she still plans to fulfill her duties formally opening and closing the convention in Philadelphia.
She also says she will speak at the four-day gathering.
Earlier, Barney Frank, co-chair of the rules committee at the convention, said it was never expected that Wasserman Schultz would preside over convention proceedings this week.

The DNC voted to select Congresswoman Marcia Fudge to oversee the convention proceedings instead.
Frank says Fudge was on the list to be convention chair "long before" the emails were leaked.
He notes that heads of the Democratic National Committee are never picked to oversee convention proceedings.
In better news for Clinton, it was announced that Michael Bloomberg, who was elected mayor of New York City as a Republican, will speak at the convention to endorse her for president.

Spokesman Marc LaVorgna says Bloomberg will make the endorsement speech on Thursday.
The billionaire media mogul opted against running as a third-party candidate for fear it might siphon away votes from Clinton and help elect Republican Donald Trump.
Bloomberg has been sharply critical of Trump, and in particular of his fellow New Yorker's inflammatory rhetoric on immigration.
Bloomberg had previously been a Democrat before switching his party affiliation to Republican before his successful 2001 run for mayor.
Bloomberg, who served three terms, later became an independent and a leading advocate for gun control.
His endorsement was first reported by the New York Times.