Progressives have not forgotten that the new DNC chair, Tom Perez, was called out during the 2016 presidential election, because of emails brought to light by WikiLeaks. As Labor Secretary, he allegedly emailed the Clinton campaign, including John Podesta, using his personal email account. According to a document found on WikiLeaks, Perez sent a lengthy email on February 5, 2016 to John Podesta and Maya Harris.

Perez updated Podesta on his perspective from the campaign trail, having just left Nevada where he was campaigning for Hillary Clinton, according to the contents of the email on WikiLeaks. Perez appears to have told Podesta that Nevada was “the firewall on a number of levels.”

Perez suggested that if the Clinton campaign could do well in Nevada, the view of Bernie Sanders campaign would change.

“When we do well there, then the narrative changes from Bernie kicks ass among young voters to Bernie does well only among young white liberals—that is a different story and a perfect lead in to South Carolina, where once again, we can work to attract young voters of color.”

Perez had given Podesta his personal email address during their initial December 3 exchange, according to rumors based on the WikiLeaks documents from media sites such as Free Beacon, which stated that Perez was criticized in 2013 by Congress for using his personal email account. Perez, like Clinton, was accused of using his personal email account to avoid FOIA requests. According to Congressional Record, it was Sen. Sessions who stood up during the nomination for Perez for Labor Secretary and brought up the issue of Perez’s use of his personal email account for government business.

John Podesta speaks to reporters about WikiLeaks emails. Perez was among those who emailed Podesta. [Image by Andrew Harnik/AP Images]

In the document on WikiLeaks, Perez allegedly told Podesta that, while in Nevada, he met up with Clinton’s state director and many Clinton volunteers. Perez worried about the caucus system in Nevada, which he said was “so screwy.”

As it turned out, the Nevada caucuses were full of problems and chaos. The Reno Gazette-Journal said there were reports of suspicious votes and long wait times. The Boston Globe reported that the Nevada caucus had caused both sides much stress, they may consider switching it in the annual line-up so that it’s not so early in the season in 2020.

Perez allegedly wrote an email to Podesta suggesting how Clinton can rise above Sanders in Nevada. [Image by Branden Camp/AP Images]

This Saturday, Sen. Bernie Sanders congratulated former Labor Secretary Tom Perez on his win at the DNC meeting. Sanders had endorsed Perez’s opponent Rep. Keith Ellison, The Hill reported.

“I congratulate Tom Perez on his election as chairman of the Democratic National Committee and look forward to working with him,” Bernie Sanders said following Perez winning the DNC chair position. “At a time when Republicans control the White House, the U.S. House, U.S. Senate and two-thirds of all statehouses, it is imperative that Tom understands that the same-old, same-old is not working and that we must open the doors of the party to working people and young people in a way that has never been done before.”

The Washington Post reported that following the DNC vote, WikiLeaks tweeted eight links to stories and content from the Podesta Email files about Perez’s work as a Clinton surrogate during the 2016 election.

“I’m sure this DNC election has stirred up similar feelings to the ones you felt during and after the primary,” Jeff Weaver, who led Sanders’ campaign said after Perez’s win. “It did for me. While Tom Perez ran a good race, many who supported him used tactics that were uncalled for. But he also made promises about building a grassroots party. We are going to hold his feet to the fire.”

[Featured Image by Branden Camp/AP Images]