DNC Offers 'Deep And Sincere Apology' To Sanders Over Email Controversy
PHILADELPHIA (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Outgoing Democratic National Committee chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz was heckled at a breakfast of Florida delegates, with opponents booing her and shouting "Shame!''
Wasserman Schultz told the crowd during a raucous scene that "we have to make sure that we move together in a unified way.''
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But supporters of Bernie Sanders shouted at her during her brief remarks to the breakfast. Furious protesters nearly drowned out her speech, crowding the stage and screaming, "You're ruining our democracy!''
"We know the voices in this room that are standing up and being disruptive we know that's not the Florida that we know," Wasserman Schultz said.
A row of police officers stood between the stage and the protesters as the Florida congresswoman, who is up for re-election, finished her speech. Several of her supporters stood on chairs and waved T-shirts bearing her name, while some yelled at the Sanders' supporters to step back or sit down.
The Sanders' supporters held paper signs that said "E-mails'' on one side and "Thanks for the 'help' Debbie,'' on the other.
The DNC has offered its "deep and sincere apology" to Sanders, his supporters and the entire party for what it calls "the inexcusable remarks made over email."
The statement from incoming interim party leader, Donna Brazile, and six other officials said the comments in the emails "do not reflect the values of the DNC or our steadfast commitment to neutrality during the nominating process."
The statement said the party won't tolerate disrespectful language.
The statement wasn't signed by Wasserman Schultz.
Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi told WCBS 880's Marla Diamond she didn't think Schultz should have handed in her resignation.
"Well I think she's been a good chairman," Pelosi said. "I don't, I don't even want to engage in that conversation. I mean there are some who don't agree with her, I agree with them."
With a goal of party unity, this recent scandal was not the way the Democrats wanted to start their convention. But Pelosi doesn't think it will put an end to the festivities.
"It's a big thing to nominate a president of the United States, and there are lots of incidentals along the way."
Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy said he expects the tone of this convention to be very different than what he called the Republicans' "politics of fear."
"How you would have thought listening to Donald Trump last week that America's a dark and foreboding place, where we're all victims of a crime on a daily basis," Malloy said. "That's just not reality -- we're better than that."
The Clinton campaign hopes Monday night's all-star lineup will refocus the convention, CBS2's Don Champion reported. Sanders, First Lady Michelle Obama and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren are scheduled to speak.
Wasserman Schultz announced Sunday that she would resign as the party's chair at the end of this week's Democratic National Convention. She was pressured to resign after hacked emails revealed the DNC may have favored Hillary Clinton over Bernie Sanders during the party's presidential primaries.
In a statement Monday, the FBI said it was investigating a "cyber intrusion" affecting the DNC and was "working to determine the nature and scope of the matter."
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