Sanders accuses DNC of tipping convention in Clinton's favor

Bernie Sanders accuses DNC of swaying convention.

(Image credit: John Sommers II/Getty Images)

last updated 6 May 2016

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) penned a letter to Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz on Friday, accusing her of tipping the convention in Hillary Clinton's favor. Sanders says that out of the 45 names he submitted to serve on Democratic National Convention committees, Wasserman Schultz only appointed three, and filled the committees mostly with Clinton supporters:

I believe the composition of the standing committees must reflect the relative support that has been received by both campaigns. That was why I was so disappointed to learn that of the over 40 people our campaign submitted at your request, you chose to select only three of my recommendations for the three standing committees. Moreover, you did not assign even one of the people submitted by our campaign to the very important Rules Committee of the Democratic National Convention. [Bernie Sanders]

Sanders also wrote that if the issue was not resolved, he would have his delegates move to change the party platform and the convention rules. The DNC quickly responded, assuring Sanders that both candidates would be fairly represented at the July convention. "Because the party’s platform is a statement of our values, the DNC is committed to an open, inclusive, and representative process," the DNC said in a statement. "Both of our campaigns will be represented on the Drafting Committee, and just as we did in 2008 and 2012, the public will have opportunities to participate."