DNC chair resigns following leaked pro-Clinton emails from WikiLeaks
The Democratic National Committee chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz resigned on Sunday, following an extensive email leak from WikiLeaks that showed the DNC's bias towards Hilary Clinton over Sen. Bernie Sanders in seeking nomination from the democrat party for the 2016 presidential election.
The leak came at a key point in the election cycle, as the Democratic National Convention is set to be held this week in Philadelphia.
The Florida congresswoman will leave the position after the Convention, saying in a statement to CNN: "As Party Chair, this week I will open and close the Convention and I will address our delegates about the stakes involved in this election not only for Democrats, but for all Americans."
The leak from WikiLeaks on Friday included 19,000 emails in a searchable database. Some alleged emails sent from the accounts of Democratic National Committee officials were trying to weaken Sander's campaign for the nomination, with one thread even targeting his religion.
"While she deserves thanks for her years of service, the party now needs new leadership that will open the doors of the party and welcome in working people and young people," Sanders said in a statement. "The party leadership must also always remain impartial in the presidential nominating process, something which did not occur in the 2016 race."
WikiLeaks didn't disclose how it obtained the emails. The leak comes after Russian hackers gained access into the DNC computer system last month, and the Clinton campaign believes the country provided the emails to WikiLeaks to sabotage the campaign against Donald Trump.
WikiLeaks warned the release was "part one of our new Hillary Leaks series."