Supporters of Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) accused one another of lying in a testy exchange on CNN Wednesday regarding accusations by Sanders that the Clinton team has violated campaign finance laws.
The Sanders camp released an open letter on Sunday citing "serious campaign finance concerns" regarding joint fundraising by the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton campaign. Politico reported that a Sanders campaign attorney argued that the "Hillary Victory Fund, the joint account between the campaign and various Democratic Party committees, 'skirts legal limits on federal campaign donations:"
The Hillary Victory Fund has reported receiving several individual contributions in amounts as high as $354,400 or more, which is over 130 times the $2,700 limit that applies for contributions to Secretary Clinton's campaign," the letter reads. "Bernie 2016 is particularly concerned that these extremely large-dollar individual contributions have been used by the Hillary Victory Fund to pay for more than $7.8 million in direct mail efforts and over $8.6 million in online advertising, both of which appear to benefit only HFA by generating low-dollar contributions that flow only to HFA, rather than to the DNC or any of the participating state party committees."
Clinton backer Brad Woodhouse said such accusations were "absolutely wrong" and that Sanders had signed the same agreement.
"What Sen. Sanders decided was he doesn't care about supporting state parties or down-ballot races," Woodhouse said. "He only cares about his presidential campaign."
"Not true," Sanders supporter Nomiki Konst said.
"Let me finish," Woodhouse said.
"Well, if you're saying something false, I have to respond," Konst said. "You can't just lie."
CNN anchor Carol Costello cut over them and said that Clinton's actions may appear "unsavory" but were legal, but Konst said the Hillary Victory Fund and Woodhouse's pro-Clinton organization, Correct The Record, were funneling money back into her presidential campaign.
Sanders was routed by Clinton in Tuesday's New York primary, reducing his already slim chances of winning the nomination even further. Costello asked Konst if it was time for Sanders to "dial down things" so as not to play into the narrative of "Crooked Hillary," the nickname bestowed upon Clinton by GOP frontrunner Donald Trump.
"Well, when they're going out of their way to circumnavigate the rules—" Konst started.
"That's just not true," Woodhouse said.
"Well, it is. Let me explain why ... Well, it is legal, but what you're not checking is how they're funneling the money," Konst said. "So Hillary Victory Fund is buying ads on Facebook trying to target donations that go back into the Hillary For America Fund. Brad, you're part of Correct The Record. Correct The Record receives money from a Super PAC. Correct The Record then gives money to the DNC. The DNC then gives money to the general fund. We know how this works. It's called a flow of money."
Konst complained that the Clinton campaign and the DNC shared attorneys, but Woodhouse smiled and said, "We're trying to win an election, Nomiki."
Her temper flared when Woodhouse tried to speak over her.
"We are, too," Konst said. "You know what, it's not the cool kids’ table. This is a competitive primary ... Hang on a second, Brad."
She went on to call the finance process legal but "dirty," accusing the DNC of ignoring the younger voters the Sanders team is bringing into the fold.