In his statement, Sanders slammed the party for not being impartial throughout the primary process

Clinton says Wasserman Schultz will serve as honorary chair of program to help elect Democrats across the country

DNC Vice Chair Donna Brazile will serve as Interim Chair through the election in November, a spokesman said

Later on Sunday, party chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz announced she will step down at the end of the convention

Some suggested the Democratic Nation Committee was favoring Hillary Clinton during the primary season

The controversy exploded over the weekend after 19,000 hacked emails were published by Wikileaks on Friday


Democratic party chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz has stepped down following Bernie Sanders' call for her resignation in the wake of a humiliating Wikileaks email hack that exposed her bias and showed the party had conspired against the Vermont senator.

Party officials took part in crisis talks on Sunday afternoon - the eve of the party's national convention in Philadelphia - leading to Wasserman Schultz's resignation at around 4pm.

The controversy exploded over the weekend, prompted in part by the publication of some 19,000 hacked emails on Friday, some of which suggested the Democratic Nation Committee was favoring Hillary Clinton during the primary season.

The revelations prompted runner-up Bernie Sanders to call for Wasserman Schultz's resignation on Sunday - a day before Democrats open their convention to nominate Clinton as the party's presidential candidate.

Later on Sunday, Wasserman Schultz was seen on the floor of the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia making final adjustments ahead of the party's convention that starts on Monday.

She will remain at the head of the party until Hillary Clinton formally accepts the Democratic nomination for president.

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Something to laugh about? Biased Debbie Wasserman Schultz is on the stage in Philadelphia on Sunday and showing no signs of contrition

Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz (pictured) has stepped down in the wake of a humiliating Wikileaks email hack that exposed her bias

Wasserman, who will resign after this week's party convention, was seen on her own in Philadelphia ahead of the event. She gave a thumbs up (left) as she directed staff

Earlier in the day, she issued a statement announcing that she will be stepping down from her role as party chair at the end of the convention.

DNC Vice Chair Donna Brazile will serve as Interim Chair through the election in November, DNC communications director Luis Miranda said on Twitter.

Wasserman Schultz said her first priority has been her role as a Florida congresswoman and that she looks forward to working on Clinton's campaign in the crucial battleground state.

Clinton later announced that Wasserman Schultz will serve as honorary chair of her campaign's 50-state program to help elect Democrats around the country because 'there's simply no one better at taking the fight to the Republicans than Debbie.'

'I have been privileged to serve as the DNC Chair for five and a half years helping to re-elect President Obama and Vice President Biden, strengthening our State Party Partnership in all 50 states, leading a vigorous primary election this past year while preparing for the general election and representing millions of Democrats across the country,' Wasserman Schultz said in a statement announcing her departure.

'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.'

She was surrounded by support just hours after she stepped down, prompting a crisis in the Republican party

In her statement, Wasserman Schultz said: 'I couldn't be more excited that Democrats are nominating our first woman presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, a friend I have always believed in and know will be a great President.

'We arrived here in Philadelphia with the most inclusive and progressive platform the party has ever proposed and a unified recommendation from the Rules Committee on our path forward as Democrats. I am proud of my role in leading these efforts.'

But she added: '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 stakes 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 have ever had.'

Bernie Sanders slammed the party for not being impartial during the primary process.

He said in a statement: 'Debbie Wasserman Schultz has made the right decision for the future of the Democratic Party. While she deserves thanks for her years of service, the party now needs new leadership that will open the doors of the party and welcome in working people and young people.

This is a silly story. He isn't going to be president An email allegedly sent by Democratic party chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz

'The party leadership must also always remain impartial in the presidential nominating process, something which did not occur in the 2016 race.'

Shortly after her announcement, President Barack Obama said he called Wasserman Schultz to tell her he is grateful to her for having his back over the past eight years.'

In a statement, Obama said: 'For the last eight years, Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz has had my back. This afternoon, I called her to let her know that I am grateful.

'Her leadership of the DNC has meant that we had someone who brought Democrats together not just for my re-election campaign, but for accomplishing the shared goals we have had for our country.'

He added that her critical role in supporting the country's economic recovery, fights for social and civil justice and providing health care for all Americans 'will be a hallmark of her tenure as Party Chair.'

'Her fundraising and organizing skills were matched only by her passion, her commitment and her warmth. And no one works harder for her constituents in Congress than Debbie Wasserman Schultz,' he said.

'Michelle and I are grateful for her efforts, we know she will continue to serve our country as a member of Congress from Florida and she will always be our dear friend.'

'WE HAVE PLANNED A GREAT AND UNIFIED CONVENTION THIS WEEK': DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ' STATEMENT 'I have been privileged to serve as the DNC Chair for five and a half years helping to re-elect President Obama and Vice President Biden, strengthening our State Party Partnership in all 50 states, leading a vigorous primary election this past year while preparing for the general election and representing millions of Democrats across the country. I couldn't be more excited that Democrats are nominating our first woman presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, a friend I have always believed in and know will be a great President. 'We arrived here in Philadelphia with the most inclusive and progressive platform the party has ever proposed and a unified recommendation from the Rules Committee on our path forward as Democrats. I am proud of my role in leading these efforts. '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 stakes 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 have 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.' Advertisement

Wasserman Schultz will step down at the end of the Democratic national convention in Philadelphia after more than five years as chair

The revelations in the WikiLeaks hack prompted runner-up Bernie Sanders to call for Wasserman Schultz's resignation on Sunday

Clinton also issued a statement, saying this week's convention will be a success thanks Wasserman Schultz's 'hard work and leadership' - and that there's 'no one better at taking the fight to the Republicans.'

'I want to thank my longtime friend Debbie Wasserman Schultz for her leadership of the Democratic National Committee over the past five years,' Clinton said.

'I am grateful to Debbie for getting the Democratic Party to this year's historic convention in Philadelphia, and I know that this week's events will be a success thanks to her hard work and leadership.

'There's simply no one better at taking the fight to the Republicans than Debbie - which is why I am glad that she has agreed to serve as honorary chair of my campaign's 50-state program to gain ground and elect Democrats in every part of the country, and will continue to serve as a surrogate for my campaign nationally, in Florida, and in other key states.

'I look forward to campaigning with Debbie in Florida and helping her in her re-election bid - because as President, I will need fighters like Debbie in Congress who are ready on day one to get to work for the American people.'

Meanwhile, Republican nominee Donald Trump quickly took to Twitter to gloat that Republican National Committee chair Reince Priebus is the 'tough and smart' one.

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 Debbie Wasserman Schultz, outgoing Democratic Party chairwoman

He said on Twitter: 'Today proves what I have always known, that @Reince Priebus is the tough one and the smart one, not Debbie Wasserman Shultz (@DWSteeets.)'

He later added: 'I always said that Debbie Wasserman Schultz was overrated. The Dems Convention is cracking up and Bernie is exhausted, no energy left!'

In another set of posts later on Sunday, he wrote: 'If the Republican Convention had blown up with e-mails, resignation of boss and the beat down of a big player. (Bernie), media would go wild.

'Crooked Hillary Clinton was not at all loyal to the person in her rigged system that pushed her over the top, DWS. Too bad Bernie flamed out.

'Even though Bernie Sanders has lost his energy and his strength, I don't believe that his supporters will let Crooked Hillary off the hook!

His campaign chair Paul Manafort also had harsh words for the official, and suggested that Hillary should also resign.

'Debbie Wasserman Schultz resigned over her failure to secure the DNC's email servers and the rigged system she set up with the Clinton campaign,' he said in a statement.

'Now Hillary Clinton should follow Wasserman Schultz's lead and drop out over her failure to safeguard top secret, classified information both on her unauthorized home server and while travelling abroad.

'Wsserman Schultz's emails only put the Democratic party at risk, but Hillary Clinton's emails put all of America at risk.'

The chairwoman stepped down hours before the start of the Democratic convention, and after she had lost her speaking slot at the event due to the allegations of bias.

On Sunday afternoon, officials discussed whether Wasserman Schultz should be forced out of her role as chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, according to a person familiar with the discussions, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

Wasserman Schultz will not take to the stage as the party attempts to 'keep the peace,' CNN reported. Sources told the network Wasserman Schultz's role will be to 'gavel in and gavel out.'

'She's been quarantined,' a high-ranking Democrat reportedly said after a meeting on Saturday night.

The DNC Rules Committee rescinded Wasserman Schultz's position of convention chairwoman, reallocating it to Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, CNN reported.

The decision followed the publication of came after leaked emails from Democratic party leaders' accounts include at least two messages suggesting an insider effort to hobble Sanders' campaign.

The Vermont senator had been critical of the Florida congresswoman throughout the primary season, accusing the party of rigging the process in favor of Clinton.

And following the leak, Sanders did the rounds on the Sunday morning shows. On CNN, he called the revelations 'outrageous' - but added: 'It's not a great shock to me.'

'There's no question in my mind and I think there's no question in any objective observer's mind that the DNC was supporting Hillary Clinton and was in opposition to our campaign, so I'm not shocked by this and that is why many, many times I made clear Debbie Wasserman Schultz should resign,' Sanders said on State of the Union.

He renewed those calls when talking to Chuck Todd on Meet the Press, adding 'nobody has apologized to me.'

'I think these emails reiterate the reason why she should not be chair,' Sanders told George Stephanopoulos on This Week.

'I think she should resign. Period,' Sanders added when pressed about what role she should play at this week's Democratic National Convention.

On Friday, more than 19,000 emails sent and received by seven top Democratic National Committee officials by anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks derailed the party's desire to project an image of unity.

In a May 5 exchange, DNC Chief Financial Officer Brad Marshall asked if someone could ask a person he did not name, presumably Sanders, about his religious beliefs in the conservative states of Kentucky and West Virginia.

A Bernie Sanders supporter holds up a sign reading 'Fire Debbie' as demonstrations heightened in Philadelphia

Another demonstrator holds up a sign 'Never Hillary' in Philadelphia just hours before the start of the Democratic convention

The massive email leak has potentially undermined the recent truce made between Bernie Sanders (left) and Hillary Clinton (right)

Debbie Wasserman Schultz will not take to the stage at the convention as the party attempts to 'keep the peace', Democrat sources said

'Does he believe in a God. He had skated on saying he has a Jewish heritage,' the message said.

'I think I read he is an atheist. This could make several points difference with my peeps. My Southern Baptist peeps would draw a big difference between a Jew and an atheist.'

The party leadership must also always remain impartial in the presidential nominating process, something which did not occur in the 2016 race Bernie Sanders

Amy Dacey, the committee's CEO, responded in all caps: 'AMEN.'

'I am not an atheist,' Sanders said on CNN on Sunday in response. 'But aside from all of that, I mean, it is an outrage and sad that you would have people in important positions in the DNC trying to undermine my campaign,' the senator added.

'I do not recall this,' Marshall said, according to The Intercept. 'I can say it would not have been Sanders. It would probably be about a surrogate.'

Later, however, Marshall apologized in a public post on his Facebook page, Politico reported.

'I deeply regret that my insensitive, emotional emails would cause embarrassment to the DNC, the Chairwoman, and all of the staffers who worked hard to make the primary a fair and open process,' Marshall wrote.

'The comments expressed do not reflect my beliefs nor do they reflect the beliefs of the DNC and its employees. I apologize to those I offended,' he added.

A May 21 email chain discussed Sanders' assertion in an interview that he would oust the party chair once he's elected to the White House.

THE FALLOUT: HILLARY AND OBAMA RALLY BEHIND WASSERMAN SCHULTZ - BUT TRUMP AND SANDERS SLAM THE OUTGOING DNC CHAIRWOMAN In leaked email exchanges, Wasserman Schultz said Sanders 'isn't going to be president', and called him campaign manager Jeff Weaver 'an ASS' and a 'damn liar' BERNIE SANDERS 'Debbie Wasserman Schultz has made the right decision for the future of the Democratic Party. While she deserves thanks for her years of service, the party now needs new leadership that will open the doors of the party and welcome in working people and young people. 'The party leadership must also always remain impartial in the presidential nominating process, something which did not occur in the 2016 race.' Sanders also did the rounds on the Sunday morning shows. On CNN, he called the revelations 'outrageous' - but added: 'It's not a great shock to me.' 'There's no question in my mind and I think there's no question in any objective observer's mind that the DNC was supporting Hillary Clinton and was in opposition to our campaign, so I'm not shocked by this and that is why many, many times I made clear Debbie Wasserman Schultz should resign,' Sanders said on State of the Union. He renewed those calls when talking to Chuck Todd on Meet the Press, adding 'nobody has apologized to me.' 'I think these emails reiterate the reason why she should not be chair,' Sanders told George Stephanopoulos on This Week. 'I think she should resign. Period,' Sanders added when pressed about what role she should play at this week's Democratic National Convention. PRESIDENT OBAMA 'For the last eight years, Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz has had my back. This afternoon, I called her to let her know that I am grateful. 'Her leadership of the DNC has meant that we had someone who brought Democrats together not just for my re-election campaign, but for accomplishing the shared goals we have had for our country.' He added that her critical role in supporting the country's economic recovery, fights for social and civil justice and providing health care for all Americans 'will be a hallmark of her tenure as Party Chair.' 'Her fundraising and organizing skills were matched only by her passion, her commitment and her warmth. And no one works harder for her constituents in Congress than Debbie Wasserman Schultz,' he said. 'Michelle and I are grateful for her efforts, we know she will continue to serve our country as a member of Congress from Florida and she will always be our dear friend.' HILLARY CLINTON She said this week's convention will be a success thanks Wasserman Schultz's 'hard work and leadership' - and that there's 'no one better at taking the fight to the Republicans.' 'I want to thank my longtime friend Debbie Wasserman Schultz for her leadership of the Democratic National Committee over the past five years,' Clinton said. 'I am grateful to Debbie for getting the Democratic Party to this year's historic convention in Philadelphia, and I know that this week's events will be a success thanks to her hard work and leadership. 'There's simply no one better at taking the fight to the Republicans than Debbie - which is why I am glad that she has agreed to serve as honorary chair of my campaign's 50-state program to gain ground and elect Democrats in every part of the country, and will continue to serve as a surrogate for my campaign nationally, in Florida, and in other key states. 'I look forward to campaigning with Debbie in Florida and helping her in her re-election bid - because as President, I will need fighters like Debbie in Congress who are ready on day one to get to work for the American people.' DONALD TRUMP (on Twitter) 'Today proves what I have always known, that @Reince Priebus is the tough one and the smart one, not Debbie Wasserman Shultz (@DWSteeets.)' He later added: 'I always said that Debbie Wasserman Schultz was overrated. The Dems Convention is cracking up and Bernie is exhausted, no energy left!' In another set of posts later on Sunday, he wrote: 'If the Republican Convention had blown up with e-mails, resignation of boss and the beat down of a big player. (Bernie), media would go wild. 'Crooked Hillary Clinton was not at all loyal to the person in her rigged system that pushed her over the top, DWS. Too bad Bernie flamed out. 'Even though Bernie Sanders has lost his energy and his strength, I don't believe that his supporters will let Crooked Hillary off the hook!' PAUL MANAFORT, TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN CHIEF 'Debbie Wasserman Schultz resigned over her failure to secure the DNC's email servers and the rigged system she set up with the Clinton campaign,' he said in a statement. 'Now Hillary Clinton should follow Wasserman Schultz's lead and drop out over her failure to safeguard top secret, classified information both on her unauthorized home server and while travelling abroad. 'Wsserman Schultz's emails only put the Democratic party at risk, but Hillary Clinton's emails put all of America at risk.' Advertisement

Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gets a hug from DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz during an event in September 2014

Writing from a Gmail account that media reports said belonged to Schultz, the chairwoman noted, 'This is a silly story. He isn't going to be president.'

In another email exchange, Wasserman Schultz called Sanders' campaign manager Jeff Weaver 'an ASS', after being told Weaver suggested the Sanders campaign continue all the way through to the convention.

I always said that Debbie Wasserman Schultz was overrated. The Dems Convention is cracking up and Bernie is exhausted, no energy left! Donald Trump

She also called Weaver a 'damn liar' and accused him of 'scummy behavior' in relation to comments he made in May about potential protests in Nevada.

In an email conversation from April, Wasserman Schultz took aim at Republican nominee Donald Trump, calling him a 'sexist pig'.

DNC National Press Secretary Mark Paustenbach emailed Wasserman Schultz about comments Trump made during an interview.

'I haven't quite recovered — it's early in the morning — from her shouting that message,' Trump said on MSNBC's Morning Joe when asked about Clinton bringing up his comments on the '\woman card,' Pasutenbach wrote, before continuing with Trump's transcript.

'And I know a lot of people would say you can't say that about a woman, because of course a woman doesn't shout. But the way she shouted that message was not — that's the way she said it, and I guess I'll have to get used to a lot of that over the next four or five months,' Trump had said.

Wasserman Schultz replied: 'Sexist pig.'

In another email thread, dated May 24, the DNC chair desperately tried to score tickets for her and six friends to see Hamilton as part of a birthday celebration in New York.

'Hey Zach, I think I mentioned to you briefly that I am planning a trip with my college roommates in December to NYC,' she wrote to the DNC's fiance director Zach Allen.

'It is for our 50th birthdays. Can you help me get 7 tickets to Hamilton from our friend who did the FR? We will be there from December 9-12.

DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ'S HAMILTON REQUEST Debbie Wasserman Schultz: Hey Zach, I think I mentioned to you briefly that I am planning a trip with my college roommates in December to NYC. It is for our 50th birthdays. Can you help me get 7 tickets to Hamilton from our friend who did the FR? We will be there from December 9-12. Let me know if there is anyone I need to speak with directly. Thank you so much. DWS DNC finance director Zach Allen: Of course, happy to ask! They usually don't take requests until a month out, and I'd need the form attached filled out (dos require a CC - it's $167/seat). I've never seen an order of 7 fulfilled, I have seen as many as 4. Would you guys be willing to split up 4 and 3? I hate to even ask but just want to make this as realistic as possible, it's like the hunger games around this thing. Wasserman Schultz: 4 and 3 on different nights or just not all together? We would want to go on the same night but we don't have to sit all together. DWS Allen: Got it, happy to put that in and see what we can do. Feel free to shoot me a CC# and I'll fill the form out for you. Advertisement

Hillary Clinton's campaign manager Robby Mook tried to keep the Clinton campaign distanced from the growing scandal, suggesting it was a DNC problem that needed to be sorted out

Talking to Jake Tapper (right) Sunday morning, Robby Mook pointed fingers at Russian hackers for infiltrating the DNC's email system and said Russians were trying to help Donald Trump win

'Let me know if there is anyone I need to speak with directly. Thank you so much.'

Allen replied saying he would be 'happy to ask', and that he would need a credit card to cover the $167 per seat costs.

The email chain did not saying whether the chair secured the seven seats.

Another email chain suggests that the Democratic National Committee encouraged party activists and even interns to attend anti-Donald Trump protests.

During one instance a top staffer huffs over a photograph that shows few people at an anti-Trump protest in Washington, D.C.

'Going forward, when our allies screw up and don't deliver bodies in time, we either send all our interns out there or we stay away from it.. we don't want to own a bad picture,' DNC communications director Luis Miranda wrote.

Miranda also persuaded reporters from hand-picked news organizations to write positive pieces about Clinton, while downplaying any grumbling made by Sanders toward the party.

In one instance, Miranda leaks to Wall Street Journal reporter Laura Meckler a letter from the Sanders campaign in which the Vermont senator's campaign complains that his picks for the rules and platform committees were rejected.

A week later, according to the New York Post, Miranda was dismissive of these qualms.

'The only reason the Sanders camp even sent that letter is that [Wasserman Schultz] was courteous enough to reach out to give both camps representation,' he wrote. 'But the appointments ... are at the chair's discretion.'

Speaking to Jake Tapper this morning on State of the Union, Clinton's campaign manager Robby Mook tried keeping his candidate an arm's length away from the growing scandal.

'Well, I think the DNC needs to look into this and take appropriate action and I'm sure that they will,' Mook said.

He used a similar line during an appearance on This Week with George Stephanopoulos.

'I think the DNC needs to get to the bottom of the facts,' Mook said.

Mook also pointed fingers at Russia.

'What's disturbing to us is that experts are telling us is Russian state actors broke into the DNC, stole these emails and other experts are now saying that the Russians are releasing these emails for the purpose of actually helping Donald Trump,' he said on State of the Union.

'I don't think it's coincidental that these emails were released on the eve of our convention here, and that's disturbing,' Mook continued.

'I think we need to be concerned about that. I think we also need to be concerned that we also saw last week at the Republican convention that Trump and his allies made changes to the platform to make it more pro-Russian,' Mook added.

A hacker who goes by the name Guccifer 2.0 took credit for the 19,252 emails released Friday morning by Wikileaks.

Investigators looking into the DNC hack have said that Guccifer 2.0 is an operative of the Russian government, which the hacker denies.

Instead, he says he's a Romanian 'hacktivist' and a solo player who dubbed himself after the original hacker Guccifer, also Romanian, who notably hacked into the AOL account of Dorothy Bush Koch, sister to President George W. Bush, revealing his painted self-portrait to the world.

Donald Trump's campaign chair Paul Manafort found Mook's defense laughable linking it back to Clinton's own email scandal.

'Dems attack Russia for hacking them but want us to believe that server in HC home was safe from hacking,' Manafort wrote this morning.

'HC put national security at risk!' he added.

Sanders waged a feisty yearlong battle against Clinton in the Democratic primaries. She clinched enough delegates to secure the nomination in early June, but Sanders did not concede defeat and endorse her until July 12.

Sanders remained faithful to Clinton, not holding her responsible for the content of the emails.

'No, no, no, we are going to do everything we can to protect working families in this country,' Sanders said when asked if the DNC shenanigans gave him any pause when it comes to supporting Clinton.

Donald Trump's campaign manager Paul Manafort chimed in this morning calling Democrats' charge that Russia hacked the DNC laugable in light of Hillary Clinton's own email scandal

It has been reported Wasserman Schultz wrote in an email 'he isn't going to be president,' in reference to Bernie Sanders

Telephones are setup for delegates ahead of the Democratic National Conventio at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia

Sanders's campaign manager Jeff Weaver, in an interview with ABC News, demanded answers on Saturday about the growing controversy.

'Someone does have to be held accountable,' said Weaver, who said the emails seemed to show misconduct at a very senior level of the DNC.

'We spent 48 hours of public attention worrying about who in the [Donald] Trump campaign was going to be held responsible for the fact that some lines of Mrs. Obama's speech were taken by Mrs. Trump. Someone in the DNC needs to be held at least as accountable as the Trump campaign,' Weaver added.

The Democratic Party, Weaver said, seemed to have 'its fingers on the scale' for Clinton, he added during the interview, which was posted on the television network's website.

'We have an electoral process. The DNC, by its charter, is required to be neutral among the candidates. Clearly it was not.'

Trump pounced on the leaks as he tries to scoop up disaffected voters who feel Sanders was denied a fair shot at the nomination by the political establishment.