In her statement, Warren said “I have no interest in discussing this private meeting any further because Bernie and I have far more in common than on our differences on punditry. “We have been friends and allies in this fight for long time, and I have no doubt we will continue to work together to defeat Donald Trump and put our government on the side of the people.”
Sanders campaign manager Faiz Shakir had urged Warren to speak out on the CNN report earlier in the day, telling NBC News, “I believe strongly what we are talking about here is a lie.”
“I believe that she should come out and say yeah, that is not my recollection of events, of course Bernie Sanders does not believe that,” Shakir said.
The bitter back and forth between the two longtime friends comes one day before the two are due to share the stage at a Democratic presidential debate in Des Moines, Iowa.
The pair had defended each other against their more moderate rivals in past Democratic debates, but cracks in their relationship began to show in recent days after Sanders started surging in the polls.
Israel ‘remains firmly committed’ to ceasefire but will continue occupation of southern Lebanon
News Outlet Caves to Democratic Senate Candidate, Kills Poll That Makes Her Look Bad
Watch: Angel Reese Shoves Caitlin Clark, Then Mocks Her as Long-Running Rivalry Is Renewed
Karmelo Anthony runs away after murdering Austin Metcalf: surveillance video
Michigan trio allegedly beat, strangled and gagged man at Las Vegas hotel to collect on gambling debts
Obama Snubs Trump from Presidential Center Opening, Then Subtly Attacks Him
Double endorsement drama: Trump backs second candidate in red state’s GOP gubernatorial runoff
Schiff silent on Biden-era Newsom probe report as California AG claims DOJ ‘weaponization’
Trump reveals new Air Force One will fly over DC on July 4
Transgender former New Hampshire state representative sentenced to 33 years for child sex abuse: report
WATCH: Boozy boaters unleash wild riverfront brawl as fists fly at popular South Carolina sandbar
New Air Force One takes flight as Trump unveils revamped presidential aircraft
Clarence Thomas and Two Fellow Conservatives Form Unexpected Majority with Two Liberals in SCOTUS Decision
‘Political stunt’ prosecution of ICE agent for ‘road rage’ provokes heated DHS response
Satanic: Muslim Pedophiles Told UK Girls That Being Raped Would Take Away Their Sins
“The timing of this clearly shows that this is a desperate move,” one senior Sanders aide told NBC News. “Unfortunately Elizabeth Warren’s campaign has been going down in the polls, and this is the latest in an attack on one of her leading competitors.”
Politico reported over the weekend that the Sanders’ campaign had been giving volunteers talking points describing Warren as the candidate of elites.
Warren said Sunday she was “disappointed” by the campaign’s actions.
“I was disappointed to hear that Bernie is sending his volunteers out to trash me,” she told NBC News.
Sanders downplayed the Politico report, saying his campaign has “hundreds of employees” and “people sometimes say things that they shouldn’t.”
“I have never said a negative word about Elizabeth Warren who is a friend of mine. We have differences on issues, that’s what campaigning is about. But no one is going to be attacking Elizabeth,” Sanders said.
Sanders has in the past been critical of some of Warren’s policy positions, particularly health care.
Israel ‘remains firmly committed’ to ceasefire but will continue occupation of southern Lebanon
News Outlet Caves to Democratic Senate Candidate, Kills Poll That Makes Her Look Bad
Watch: Angel Reese Shoves Caitlin Clark, Then Mocks Her as Long-Running Rivalry Is Renewed
Karmelo Anthony runs away after murdering Austin Metcalf: surveillance video
Michigan trio allegedly beat, strangled and gagged man at Las Vegas hotel to collect on gambling debts
Obama Snubs Trump from Presidential Center Opening, Then Subtly Attacks Him
Double endorsement drama: Trump backs second candidate in red state’s GOP gubernatorial runoff
Schiff silent on Biden-era Newsom probe report as California AG claims DOJ ‘weaponization’
Trump reveals new Air Force One will fly over DC on July 4
Transgender former New Hampshire state representative sentenced to 33 years for child sex abuse: report
WATCH: Boozy boaters unleash wild riverfront brawl as fists fly at popular South Carolina sandbar
New Air Force One takes flight as Trump unveils revamped presidential aircraft
Clarence Thomas and Two Fellow Conservatives Form Unexpected Majority with Two Liberals in SCOTUS Decision
‘Political stunt’ prosecution of ICE agent for ‘road rage’ provokes heated DHS response
Satanic: Muslim Pedophiles Told UK Girls That Being Raped Would Take Away Their Sins
In an October interview with ABC, Sanders said his Massachusetts counterpart “is a very, very good senator. But there are differences between Elizabeth and myself. Elizabeth, I think, as you know, has said that she is a capitalist through her bones. I’m not.”
Before Sunday, Warren had largely avoided being critical of Sanders and his campaign, typically telling reporters asking about the differences between them that they’re friends and she doesn’t want to comment on other campaigns.