Wasserman Schultz: Sanders' Statement on Nevada Violence 'Falls Short'

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders' statement on the violence that marked the Nevada Democratic Convention over the weekend "falls short" of where it should have to condemn the issue, Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said Wednesday.

"When there is a 'but' in between the condemnation of violence generally and after the word 'but,' you go on to seemingly justify the reason that the violence and intimidation has occurred, then that falls short of making sure that going forward this kind of conduct doesn't occur in the future," Wasserman Schultz told CNN's Chris Cuomo on the "New Day" morning program.

Early Tuesday, Sanders issued a statement condemning the violence, reports MSNBC, but went on to blame the Nevada Democratic Party for the violence and to say his supporters and his campaign are not being treated fairly.

Wasserman Schultz said Sanders' statement did not condemn the violence, and pushed back on Sanders' contention that the primary delegate system favors Hillary Clinton over him.

"We have a process set up that is eminently fair," she said, pointing out that it follows the same rules that resulted in the nomination and election of President Barack Obama. "We had a credentials committee that establishes those rooms at the Nevada Democratic Party that was evenly split between Sanders supporters and Clinton supporters."

Further, she said that everyone involved needs to be sure to take steps to ensure that the process runs smoothly, "but that the response from both candidates is appropriate and civil."

Roberta Lange, the chairwoman of the Nevada Democratic Party, has been subjected to death threats, said Wasserman Schultz, and as the leader of the national party, "it's my responsibility to make sure that candidates and everyone involved understands that the appropriate way to respond to frustration over process is to do so civilly."

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has spoken to Sanders about the incidents, and Wasserman Schultz denied claims by Sanders' supporters that that happened to intimidate the campaign.

She also said that she did not speak personally with the campaign because she did not want to "pile on."

Sanders Campaign Manager Jeff Weaver, appearing later on the show, fired back at Wasserman Schultz, saying that she has not supported the Sanders campaign, but still, he said that there should be "no context in which any kind of threats are ever acceptable."

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