DNC apology to Sanders for 'inexcusable' email
Bernie Sanders savaged Republican candidate Donald Trump
Democratic Party bosses have apologised to Bernie Sanders for "inexcusable" emails aimed at undermining his White House bid, as they tried to patch up an embarrassing party feud.
"We want to offer a deep and sincere apology to Senator Sanders, his supporters, and the entire Democratic Party for the inexcusable remarks made over email," the Democratic National Committee said in a statement on the opening day of the party's convention set to nominate Hillary Clinton for the presidency.
"These comments do not reflect the values of the DNC or our steadfast commitment to neutrality during the nominating process."
Earlier, Mr Sanders urged his supporters to back Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in her White House bid, drawing jeers and shouts of "We want Bernie" in a show of discord as the party kicked off its national convention.
The boos underscored the deeply felt anger his convention delegates feel at both Mrs Clinton's win and embarrassing emails leaked on Friday suggesting the party leadership had worked to sabotage Mr Sanders' campaign for the nomination.
Debbie Wasserman Schultz resigned as party chairwoman yesterday, a day before the start of the Philadelphia convention to formally nominate Mrs Clinton for the 8 November election, and she bowed to pressure and agreed not to open the convention.
Speaking to his supporters, Mr Sanders savaged Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, calling him a danger to the future of the country who "must be defeated," but some in the room booed when he said "we have got to elect Hillary Clinton" and her vice presidential running mate, US Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia. Mr Sanders, a US senator from Vermont, tried to calm them down.
"Brothers and sisters, this is the real world that we live in," he said, adding, "Trump is a bully and a demagogue."
Members of the crowd started screaming back: "So is Hillary." "She stole the election!" someone else shouted.
The leak on Friday of more than 19,000 Democratic National Committee emails by the WikiLeaks website put the spotlight back on Mr Sanders' failed bid to win the Democratic nomination, and in particular on his complaints during the campaign that the party establishment was working to undermine him.
Democratic Party bosses have apologised to Bernie Sanders for "inexcusable" emails aimed at undermining his White House bid, as they tried to patch up an embarrassing party feud.
.@BernieSanders supporters chanting #FeeltheBern ahead of a meeting with him earlier at #DemsinPhilly. @rtenewshttps://t.co/vt1eX5VrpM
— Caitriona Perry (@CaitrionaPerry) July 25, 2016
A democratic socialist, Mr Sanders ran an unexpectedly tough race against former secretary of state Clinton, galvanising young and liberal voters with his calls to rein in Wall Street and eradicate income inequality.
Mr Sanders brought the loudest cheers when he noted that Ms Wasserman Schultz, a US representative from Florida, had resigned as the DNC chairman over the email controversy.
"Her resignation opens up the possibility of new leadership at the top of the Democratic Party," Mr Sanders said, adding that the leadership should be made up of "people who want real change."
Ms Wasserman Schultz's resignation is effective at the end of the convention, but she told Florida's Sun Sentinel newspaper that she would not speak as planned at the opening of the convention.
"I have decided that in the interest of making sure that we can start the Democratic convention on a high note that I am not going to gavel in the convention," Ms Wasserman Schultz said.
The meeting "needs to be all about making sure that everyone knows that Hillary Clinton would make the best president," she said.
The controversy over the emails has been an embarrassing prelude to the convention, which Democratic officials had hoped would convey no-drama competence in contrast to the volatile campaign of Mr Trump.
The New York businessman was formally nominated for president at a chaotic Republican convention in Cleveland last week.