Congressman: ‘Time to Move on’ from DNC Leaked Email Controversy

PHILADELPHIA – Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.) said it is “time to move on” from the Democratic National Committee’s hacked email controversy.

Davis told PJM he understands the frustration among Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) supporters after the emails leaked. Some of the messages showed that some party officials were against Sanders during the primary.

“Debbie Wasserman Schultz has kind of resigned from that position, made an apology and now it’s time to move on,” Davis said.

Rebecca Christopher, a creative strategist at the DNC, wrote via email, “Attached is a script for a new video we’d like to use to mop up some more taco bowl engagement, and demonstrate the Trump actually isn’t trying.” Trump tweeted a photo of himself eating a taco bowl on Cinco de Mayo.

Davis acknowledged that the use of the term “taco bowl engagement” conflicts with the Democratic Party’s message on immigration reform but said it is “time to move” on from the situation.

“Well, I think it would, but I don’t think that was a staffer who thought that up and there are always some people who think up things and they’ll express themselves. Oftentimes my staff will say things to people that don’t represent my real positions or point of view, and I know it’s there and people know it’s there and we move on,” he said.

Davis was asked if the staffers who sent the most controversial emails should be removed.

“I think they will resign also, more than likely. I mean, you know, when you’ve made an error, you’ve made a mistake, the best way to do is clean it up and move on,” he responded.

Davis also provided his analysis of the Sanders supporters who protested the DNC, arguing that Sanders was not treated fair during the primary race. The congressman dismissed the idea that the Democratic Party is not united.

“Not really. I mean, I understand the protesters. I have been a part of protests all my life and so I don’t get that excited because when you are protesting, oftentimes, you are trying to make a point and you can decide when you are going to stop or when you have made the point, or you might make the point all the way up to the hilt and then decide it’s OK to get with the group you want to be with and that’s the real deal,” he said.

“So I am not really surprised about it. I am not afraid it’s going to be disjointed. Everybody I come in contact with are talking unity, unity, unity, and we’ll be all right.”