Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D., Fla.) will not speak at all at the upcoming Democratic National Convention following the hacking and release of emails showing party personnel working against the primary campaign of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.).
CNN reports that the decision was made on Saturday, with the convention set to start Monday. Initially, Schultz was expected to not give a speech but at least gavel the convention in and out, but CNN reports that position has been rescinded:
The DNC Rules Committee on Saturday rescinded Wasserman Schultz's position as convention chairwoman, instead naming Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, as permanent chair of the convention, according to a DNC source. She will gavel each session to order and will gavel each session closed, a role that had been expected to be held by Wasserman Schultz.
Wasserman Schultz's stewardship of the DNC has been under fire through most of the presidential primary process, but her removal from the convention stage comes following the release of nearly 20,000 emails.
One email appears to show DNC staffers asking how they can reference Bernie Sanders' faith to weaken him in the eyes of Southern voters. Another seems to depict an attorney advising the committee on how to defend Hillary Clinton against an accusation by the Sanders campaign of not living up to a joint fundraising agreement.
Wasserman Schultz is expected to gavel the convention in and out, but not speak in the wake of the controversy surrounding the leaked emails, a top Democrat said.
"She's been quarantined," another top Democrat said, following a meeting Saturday night.
Sanders had claimed throughout the Democratic primary against Hillary Clinton that the system had been rigged against him and that DNC personnel were colluding with Clinton's campaign. The release of the emails seems to prove his claim as emails showed staff members coming up with potential attacks against Sanders:
One email appears to show DNC staffers asking how they can reference Bernie Sanders' faith to weaken him in the eyes of Southern voters. Another seems to depict an attorney advising the committee on how to defend Hillary Clinton against an accusation by the Sanders campaign of not living up to a joint fundraising agreement.
Prior to this revelation, several Democrats had already discussed replacing Schultz at the DNC. Sanders has endorsed and assisted Schultz's opponent in the Democratic primary for her congressional seat.
Note: This article has been updated.