Hillary Clinton’s communications director, Kristina Schake, called the resignation of Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D., Fla.) an "extraordinary gesture for unity" on Monday.
Schultz said she would step down from her post after a DNC email hack revealed that party staffers had a bias in favor of the Clinton campaign during the primary. One email that was particularly damaging showed a staffer trying to use Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I., Vt.) religious beliefs against him.
"She was booed off the stage at the Florida delegation," MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell said, referring to Schultz. "I was there. It was pretty rough."
She then asked Schake if Schultz should appear in front of the Democratic National Convention this week.
Schake said the fact Schultz stepped down as chair, after saying there was no way that she would step down before her tenure was completed, showed a great sign of unity.
"We really believe that Debbie made an extraordinary gesture for unity by resigning," she said.
Many groups called for her immediate resignation after her emails surfaced from Wikileaks. Progressive groups led the charge in calling for her ouster.
Schake called this resignation "respectful."
She then praised Schultz for what she achieved as DNC chair.
"She has been a tireless fighter for the Democratic Party for the last five years," Schake said. "She was instrumental in the reelection campaign of President Obama. She’s been a tireless fighter for progressive issues, and so she made the very extraordinary gesture to resign at the end of this week out of respect for the party and to bring us together and really unify us."
"And she made the decision," Schake continued. "She is currently the chair, which by the rules means she’s going to gavel it in today. She made that decision and I think we heard Jeff Weaver just say he hopes people are respectful of that and mindful of the work that she’s done in these last five years."