Exclusive: Sanders Campaign Explains Why He Did Not Take Part in Democratic Gun Control Filibuster

Bernie Sanders Campaign Tells NCRM Why Vermont Senator Did Not Participate in Historic Filibuster

For nearly 15 hours 41 U.S. Senators staged a historic filibuster to force Republicans to allow a vote on two important gun control efforts. It was, for many, the very necessary response to the nation’s deadliest terror attack since 9/11, deadliest anti-LGBT hate crime, and deadliest mass shooting.

The effort was led by Connecticut Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, and supported for the entire time by Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). 38 other Senators participated, including two Republicans – a stunning achievement – and one Independent, Senator Angus King of Maine.

The filibuster was successful:

On social media, gun control supporters and LGBT allies (often the same) hailed the effort, tweeting and facebooking posts tagged #DemFilibuster.

But also on social media, many asked, #WheresBernie?

Senator Bernie Sanders, who frequently reminds supporters that he has supported same-sex marriage and other LGBT civil rights long before anyone else, was no where to be found.

Sanders is still a U.S. Senator despite having allowed his presidential campaign to take him so far away from his day job that he has missed 100 percent of the votes in the Senate this year, according to GovTrack:

 

Sanders did tweet support:

But his absence did not go unnoticed:

So why did Senator Sanders miss the filibuster entirely? He had met with Hillary Clinton less than 24 hours earlier in a D.C. hotel. 

Sanders spokesman Michael Briggs told The Washington Post’s Dave Weigel, “It just didn’t work yesterday.”

“We’re keeping an eye on votes next week,” he added.

The New Civil Rights Movement also spoke with Sanders’ spokesperson, Michael Briggs, via email. 

“I’m hoping you can offer us a reason as to why, after the deaths of 49 people in the Orlando terror attack, Sen. Sanders, who has positioned himself as a long-time defender and supporter of the LGBT community, did not join in the filibuster and stand with his fellow Senators?,” NCRM asked.

“He was in Burlington, Vermont, where he had participated in a vigil on Monday night organized by Vermont Pride,” Briggs responded quickly.

When NCRM pointed out that the vigil was Monday and the filibuster was Wednesday, the Sanders campaign did not respond.

 

EARLIER:

Senate Democrats End 15 Hour Filibuster for Gun Control With Emotional Story of 6-Year Old Victim

Op-Ed: We Are Not Okay

Watch Live Now: Senate Democrats Filibuster Bill Until Republicans Agree to Discuss Gun Control

 

Image by Rev Dills via Flickr and a CC license