UPDATING: Bernie Sanders Sues DNC

Bernie Sanders just filed a federal lawsuit after the DNC revoked access to its voter file database.

The Bernie Sanders campaign just filed a federal lawsuit against the Democratic National Committee after its chair, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, revoked access to the DNC’s voter files. 

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., does not name Wasserman Schultz personally, but does reveal the Sanders campaign leased the database for $120,000, and that access to it expires on December 31.

“The leadership of the Democratic National Committee is now actively attempting to undermine our campaign. This is unacceptable,” Sanders’ campaign manager Jeff Weaver told reporters at a press conference Friday afternoon. “Individual leaders of the DNC can support Hillary Clinton in any way they want, but they are not going to sabotage our campaign — one of the strongest grassroots campaigns in modern history.”

LOOK: Bernie Sanders’ Fired Data Director Explains What Happened With DNC Data Breach (Video)

Accusing the DNC of having “stolen” the Sanders campaign’s own data, Weaver threatened that ‘if the DNC continues to hold our data hostage, and continues to try to attack the heart and soul of our campaign, we will be in federal court this afternoon seeking an immediate injunction.”

This afternoon he carried out that threat.

Politico calls the DNC’s action “a potentially crippling blow” to the Sanders campaign.

The DNC’s action could cost the Sanders campaign about $600,000 a day, for each day its access to the database is barred.

UPDATE I: 6:17 PM EST –

The lawsuit, below, states the legal agreement between the campaign and the DNC only allows the DNC to cancel the agreement, and thus, access to the database, after giving the Sanders campaign 10 days notice to “cure” any “breach.” It also states the DNC “did not send the Campaign any written notice of termination, much less afford the Campaign the contractually required ten-day period in which to cure any default.”

UPDATE II: 6:19 PM EST –

UPDATE III: 6:25 PM EST –

Clinton’s press secretary posted these tweets: 

UPDATE IV: 7:25 PM EST –

Watch: Sanders Campaign Manager, Clinton Press Secretary Duel In Separate Interviews

 

This is a breaking news and developing story. Details may changed. This story will be updated. Stay tuned and refresh for updates.

Image by Hollywata via Flickr and a CC license