PHILADELPHIA — Embattled Democratic Party Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz will be stepping down as chair by the end of the week, she announced Sunday as calls for her head reached a crescendo in the wake of an email leak revealing the party’s bias against Bernie Sanders.
“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,” she said in a statement.
“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,” said Wasserman Schultz.
Schultz said she’ll still open and close the convention, and plans to address “delegates about the stakes involved in this election not only for Democrats, but for all Americans.” But earlier in the day, she was replaced as convention chair by Rep. Marcia Fudge from Ohio, who is scheduled to address the convention.
A Democratic source told The Post it was “very unusual” that Wasserman Schultz would still open and close the convention, as that role is typically reserved for the chair of the convention.
Sanders supporters have long called for the resignation of Wasserman Schultz, who they viewed as impartial and as rigging the system to favor Hillary Clinton.
Those complaints resonated louder than ever Friday when hacked emails, posted on by WikiLeaks, showed the staff of the Democratic Party working to hurt Sanders and help Clinton. Early Sunday, Sanders reiterated his call for her resignation.
In a statement to the press, President Obama praised Wasserman Schultz as a “dear friend.”
“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,” he said.
Similarly, Hillary Clinton thanks her “longtime friend,” and revealed Wasserman Schultz would transition to playing a role in the Clinton campaign.
“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,” siad Clinton.
“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.