Elections

Hacked Emails: ThinkProgress Editor Fed Hillary Campaign Info On How To Hurt Bernie

(BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

Christian Datoc Senior White House Correspondent
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Judd Legum, founder and editor of the liberal ThinkProgress blog, repeatedly fed the Hillary Clinton campaign information about Bernie Sanders during the Democratic primary, hacked emails published by WikiLeaks reveal.

Hillary Clinton listens as Bernie Sanders speaks during an event at the University of New Hampshire on September 28, 2016 (Getty Images)

Hillary Clinton listens as Bernie Sanders speaks during an event at the University of New Hampshire on September 28, 2016 (Getty Images)

In one instance back in February, the self-proclaimed lefty journalist sent Clinton’s campaign chairman John Podesta a link to an NBC story about Sanders defending rapper Killer Mike, one of his highest-profile supporters.

Legum highlighted a quote from Sanders explaining why Killer Mike isn’t sexist for urging Clinton supporters to vote for Sanders.

“I don’t go around, no one has ever heard me say, ‘Hey guys, let’s stand together, vote for a man.’ I would never do that, never have,” the Vermont senator stated to which Legum added, “needless to say, he doesn’t say that because he doesn’t have to.”

Podesta responded, “Yes — we are on it.”

Hillary Clinton arrives to board her campaign plane in White Plains, New York on October 11, 2016 (Getty Images)

Hillary Clinton arrives to board her campaign plane in White Plains, New York on October 11, 2016 (Getty Images)

Later in February, Legum tipped off Center for American Progress President and Clinton surrogate Neera Tanden that Faiz Shakir, a senior communications staffer for Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, was writing speeches for Sanders.

“JDP [Jennifer Palmieri] knows,” Legum wrote to Tanden. “I think it’s just kind of informal for now but he’s like writing speeches and stuff or at least speech language.”

Tanden then forwarded the message to Podesta with the following addendum.

“You know about this?” she asked. “Jesus. Makes sense since all these freaks after Hillary are like his spawn.”

“Yes,” Podesta answered. “Gave him a very hard time. I have to say this does not go down easy with me. Wish him well in life.”

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