Former interim Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairwoman Donna Brazile argued Monday that her party’s 2016 presidential primary process was not rigged because none of the votes were overturned.
Speaking at the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics, Brazile clarified the section of her book that appeared to allege the Democratic Party’s primary had been rigged in Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonWhite House accuses Biden of pushing ‘conspiracy theories’ with Trump election claim Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton qualifies to run for county commissioner in Florida MORE’s favor. Brazile argued that the primary was not rigged because despite internal issues at the DNC, Clinton won because of support from voters.
“And I concluded that it was not rigged because the votes for Hillary Clinton came from you the voters, you the voters. I found no evidence of one vote being overturned by what was happening internally,” Brazile said.
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“But what I did find, what made me very very upset at the time, was that this agreement meant that the Hillary campaign would control the DNC finances. And I did not like that.”
The remarks are the latest wrinkle in the fallout from Brazile’s new book, “Hacks: The Inside Story of the Break-ins and Breakdowns that Put Donald TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE in the White House,” which includes revelations about the 2016 Democratic presidential primary that has roiled the party.
In an excerpt published prior to the book’s release, Brazile described a joint fundraising agreement between Clinton’s campaign, the Clinton joint fundraising committee and the DNC that said the campaign would “control the party’s finances, strategy, and all the money raised.”
The agreement was signed in August of 2015, Brazile said, effectively giving Clinton’s campaign control of the DNC nearly one year before she secured the nomination after a competitive primary battle with Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Milley apologizes for church photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness MORE (I-Vt.). The excerpt caused Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Joint Chiefs chairman says he regrets participating in Trump photo-op | GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op | Senate panel approves 0B defense policy bill Trump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names MORE (D-Mass.) to say she believed the primary was rigged, a claim she has since walked back.
“By September 7, the day I called Bernie, I had found my proof and it broke my heart,” Brazile wrote in the excerpt of her book.
However, several days after the excerpt was published, Brazile denied that the party’s primary was rigged — an apparent backtrack from the implication in that section of her book, which has caused much confusion within her own party.
During the Monday remarks in Chicago, Brazile emphasized that she authored her new book out of concern about the hacking at the DNC, which had its emails released by WikiLeaks before the presidential election.
“But if this book will raise awareness about hacking and how you all need to protect your identity, get the two step certification, let alone understand the country needs to be protected,” Brazile said. “Our data banks, our election systems, this is the purpose of writing this book, not to open old wounds.”
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