Democratic National Committee Vice Chairman Keith Ellison said Friday that Democrats cannot ignore recent allegations by a former party chairwoman that the DNC granted Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign a substantial amount of control over the party. In a forthcoming book, Brazile says that in exchange for a joint fundraising deal to keep the DNC funded, the party agreed in August of 2015 to give Clinton’s campaign some direct influence over the party’s strategy, staffing decisions, and finances.
“Donna Brazile’s account cannot simply be dismissed,” Rep. Keith Ellison D-Minn., said in a statement. “We must heed the call for our party to enact real reforms that ensure a fair, open, and impartial nominating process in elections to come.”
Ellison’s comments take a different track than those of DNC Chairman Tom Perez, who wouldn’t directly address Brazile’s allegations that the DNC acted unethically in it’s handling of the 2016 primary contest. “We’re moving forward,” Perez said.
“I’m committed to working with Chairman Perez to make the DNC more transparent and accountable to the American people, whether that’s by ensuring that debates are scheduled far ahead of time or by guaranteeing that the terms of joint fundraising agreements give no candidate undue control or influence over the party,” Ellison said.
Ellison said party leaders must “acknowledge that millions still feel hurt and betrayed by the events of the 2016 presidential primary.”
“We can’t allow this idea to persist that any candidate has an inside track, because the DNC must be an impartial and transparent organization that welcomes all people who share our core values of economic justice and human rights for all,” he said.
Democrats will only retake power, Ellison warned, if the party’s core supporters trust the nominating process.
