MSNBC's "Morning Joe" panel laughed Friday at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's (D., N.Y.) claim that he didn't "follow" the 2016 Democratic primary after being asked to comment on charges it was rigged for Hillary Clinton.
Former interim Democratic National Committee chair Donna Brazile's explosive book excerpt Thursday stated Clinton's campaign effectively took control of the DNC through a joint fundraising agreement in 2015, nearly a year before she accepted the Democratic nomination after defeating Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.).
Brazile wrote it broke her heart to tell Sanders she found "proof" the fix was in well before a primary vote was cast, as a debt-ridden DNC made the deal with Clinton and gave her say over staffing, budgeting and data.
In response to the revelations, top Democrats like Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) have stated the process was "rigged" in favor of Clinton.
In an excerpt of a longer interview, MSNBC's Kasie Hunt asked Schumer about Warren's statement and whether he agreed.
"I haven't read her book," Schumer said. "I don't know the details, so I'm not going to make a judgment on that."
"Do you have any concerns about the DNC's involvement in the primary in 2016?" Hunt asked.
"You know, again, I didn't follow it. I'd like to see what Donna Brazile has to say. I will read it, but—" Schumer started.
"Bernie Sanders has never complained about this to you before?" Hunt asked incredulously.
"Oh, he's complained all the time," Schumer said.
He appeared to begin to say more, but it was the only clip "Morning Joe" showed at the time of the interview for Hunt's new Sunday evening show, "Kasie D.C."
Upon throwing back to "Morning Joe," Willie Geist was in disbelief.
"Kasie, Senator Schumer didn't follow the 2016 presidential nominating process?" Geist asked.
"Didn't follow it?" host Joe Scarborough exclaimed, as Geist, Eugene Robinson and others laughed.
"That's a dodge," Geist said.
"Oh my God!" Scarborough said.