Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) appeared to imply Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union" that he will not give his email list to the Democratic National Committee to help the Democratic Party in upcoming elections.
"That sounded like you were saying that you're going keep your email list to support the candidates that you think are progressives and you're not going to give it to the Democratic National Committee," host Jake Tapper said to Sanders. "Did I interpret that incorrectly?"
Sanders dodged the question, saying he will back candidates who support working Americans against "big money and trusts."
"Well, where we are right now is that we are going to support and have supported and will continue to support those candidates who have the guts to stand up for working families and take on the big money and trusts," said Sanders, a self-declared democratic socialist.
He went on to criticize President Donald Trump's Cabinet members for not representing the working class.
"The people around Donald Trump, you know, I got to–Jake, when you talk–when President Trump talks about being the party of working people, man, he certainly has put together an administration of working people," Sanders said sarcastically. "He has more billionaires, more millionaires in his Cabinet and his administration than any president in history."
"He has appointed people who are going to decimate the needs of the elderly, the children, the sick, and the poor," the senator added.
Sanders then referred back to Tapper's question to summarize his point.
"So what we are going to do is support those candidates who have the guts to stand up to the one percent and fight for the 99 percent," he said.
Tapper acknowledged that Sanders did not directly answer the question and said he thinks his original "interpretation" was right.
"Ok, I think my interpretation was correct," Tapper said before asking another question.
Sanders' comments came one day after his preferred candidate to chair the DNC, Rep. Keith Ellison (D., Minn.), lost to former Labor Secretary Tom Perez. Members of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, like Sanders, have argued Perez represents the Washington, D.C. establishment and will not lead the party in a more liberal direction.