The jaw-dropping emails leaked from the DNC showing blatant, relentless, and unmitigated collusion against one of their two candidates in the nomination process have left America stunned.

This is unprecedented. It is now clear the Democrat’s nomination process was a sham. A show. There was no attempt at an impartial or even-handed voting process. The emails show a clear collusion in the party to conspire against one candidate Bernie Sanders in favor of Hillary Clinton, with a deliberate plan of attack.

We are in unchartered territory. Americans rightly assume that the nomination election is always a democratic election, and these emails show clearly that that was not the case.

What must happen next?

Well, first, there must be an apology, and quickly. A full admission of guilt must be forthcoming immediately. As much distance as possible be immediately made between the party and the conspirators if the DNC is to survive this in any sort of form. This has been a devastating blow to the DNC; they must make sure it’s not a fatal one.

Structurally, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz must step down as chair. The following is according to the DNC Charter and Bylaws.

“Article 5, Section 4 of the charter and bylaws of the Democratic Party requires the DNC chair to remain impartial during the primary process […]:

In the conduct and management of the affairs and procedures of the Democratic National Committee, particularly as they apply to the preparation and conduct of the Presidential nomination process, the Chairperson shall exercise impartiality and evenhandedness as between the Presidential candidates and campaigns.”

Debbie Wasserman-Schultz’s actions were repeatedly in clear defiance of the Charter. She did not abide by them. She is unfit to serve as chair.

This must be done swiftly and without mitigation. If the DNC is to survive this without bleeding out altogether, they must distance themselves immediately from all persons implicated. If they are to regain the trust of the American people as a party committed to democracy, they must immediately sack all involved and issue a statement that shows they do not condone such behavior and strongly enforces their commitment to the democratic process.

Anyone junior who was implicated in these emails must receive stern warnings, so that this corrupt culture doesn’t continue to spread throughout the party. It must be made clear that democracy is not something you can fiddle with for fun or profit.

All journalists who have been colluding with the DNC to create “news” articles that swayed public opinion in Hillary’s favor must apologize immediately and face suspension or even termination. The fourth estate should always at all times maintain its objectivity and political impartiality. It is not and never should be the publicity arm of any political party or faction.

There must be a do-over. Even without the ruling on the Trust Vote lawsuit that shows widespread election fraud and voter suppression during the Democratic nomination cycle and proves that Bernie Sanders, in fact, won the public vote. Even without that evidence, these emails are more than enough to show that the process was not “impartial” or “evenhanded” so by the very rules of the DNC, it was not a legal nomination process.

All monies taken from Bernie Sander’s supporters in this blatantly rigged sham of a nomination “contest” must be returned to the supporters at the DNC’s expense. It is only right that the DNC pay back the Bernie Sanders supporters for monies for a candidate who they internally considered to be a non-candidate. If the DNC wishes to distance itself from this disaster and rebuild trust in its party, they must return these monies.

Finally, there must be a do-over, and it must be at the DNC’s expense. There is no precedent for this, of course, but Hillary Clinton can no longer be considered a democratically elected candidate, so her presumptive nominee position must be terminated and a new election called.

If the DNC doesn’t take these necessary steps to distance itself completely from this outrageous and blatant corruption, it will lose this election and fall out of the American consciousness as a viable liberal democratic alternative, and another progressive party will rise up to take its place.

They must stop this sickness in its tracks now, loudly and publicly, before this kills the party off for good.

[Photo by Jim Mone/AP Images]