Bernie Sanders’ campaign has filed a lawsuit in federal court against the DNC for blocking their access to all voter data.
The DNC made the decision to withhold Sanders’ access from its crucial database after at least one staffer for the Sanders camp exploited a software error that allowed him to improperly access Hillary Clinton’s confidential voter information.
According to the lawsuit, Sanders’ campaign raised millions in because of that very kind of data. The campaign explained that they only saw Clinton’s data because of a bug in the system and that the DNC blocked them without any advanced notice.
The revelation could pose a major setback for Sanders. The DNC database is considered a treasure-trove of information about voters. The timing is also problematic, as Clinton and Sanders are set to square off in New Hampshire on Saturday for the last Democratic debate of 2015.
Sanders’ camps said the decision by the DNC could “significantly disadvantage, if not cripple, a Democratic candidate’s campaign for public office.” They say the move could cost them up to $600,000 a day.
This latest development has only added to the growing frustration among Sanders’ and former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley’s campaigns who claim the DNC has been working behind the scenes to help Clinton in her bid for the White House.
“The leadership of the Democratic National Committee is actively trying to undermine our campaign,” Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weave said during a press conference in Washington on Friday.
Two senior Democrats familiar with the investigation told CNN that the Sanders campaign retrieved Clinton’s turnout projections for Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary.
The Clinton campaign called for Sanders and the DNC to “work expeditiously to ensure that our data is not in the Sanders campaign’s account and that the Sanders campaign only have access to their own data.”
You can read the lawsuit here.
Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.