Manchester, NH (CNN) The lawyer for Walter Scott, the black man who was shot and killed by a South Carolina police officer last year, is changing his endorsement of Hillary Clinton to Bernie Sanders, his campaign announced Monday.

Justin T. Bamberg, a South Carolina state lawmaker and lawyer for the Scott family, is withdrawing his support from Clinton. The switch was first reported by The New York Times.

"The question to ask is not what Secretary Clinton did to lose it, but what Sen. Sanders did to gain it," Bamberg said on a conference call. "I must acknowledge that from the beginning I, as is the case for many Americans, did not give Sen Sanders as a candidate his fair share (of attention.)"

The endorsement comes at a critical moment for Sanders, as he looks to cut into Clinton's strong support from among black voters in South Carolina.

"Bernie represents bold new leadership and is not afraid to challenge the status quo or the traditional way of thinking," Bamberg said. "Speaking from personal experience. Such an approach does not come without inherent risks. People will say that our objectives are unachievable, that they are impossible."

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