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.
Beshear sends second letter to Mitch McConnell demanding ‘proof of your capacity to serve, or resign’
DCCC program knocks nearly 40,000 doors to mark 100 days from midterms
Trump welcomes Netanyahu to White House as raging Iran war threatens to sour US-Israel relationship
Christian Teacher Released from Prison After 700 Days for Refusing to Use Preferred Pronouns
Major CEO Predicts Another $100 Billion Is Heading Toward Trump Accounts
Fauci privately took credit for COVID-19 lockdowns despite public denial, newly exposed diary entries reveal
Lindsey Graham’s final mission nears finish line as world leaders gather to honor him
Democrats target more GOP House seats after socialist victories rock left-wing primaries
Lindsay Clancy’s ex-husband details ‘big spiral’ as expert says one part ‘scared me’ in mom’s murder trial
Heroic 16-year-old lifeguard rescues child from monster surf in heart-stopping video
California family members claim they were attacked at luxury Maui resort during violent melee
Leaked Document Reveals How Senate Republicans Plan to Walk Tightrope on SAVE America Act
19 cadets rushed to hospitals after mystery illness strikes military-style youth academy in DC area
Biden ghostwriter tapes released after former president forfeits legal battle
Biden’s classified docs narrative crumbles amid release of ghostwriter tapes: ‘Be careful’
“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.
Beshear sends second letter to Mitch McConnell demanding ‘proof of your capacity to serve, or resign’
DCCC program knocks nearly 40,000 doors to mark 100 days from midterms
Trump welcomes Netanyahu to White House as raging Iran war threatens to sour US-Israel relationship
Christian Teacher Released from Prison After 700 Days for Refusing to Use Preferred Pronouns
Major CEO Predicts Another $100 Billion Is Heading Toward Trump Accounts
Fauci privately took credit for COVID-19 lockdowns despite public denial, newly exposed diary entries reveal
Lindsey Graham’s final mission nears finish line as world leaders gather to honor him
Democrats target more GOP House seats after socialist victories rock left-wing primaries
Lindsay Clancy’s ex-husband details ‘big spiral’ as expert says one part ‘scared me’ in mom’s murder trial
Heroic 16-year-old lifeguard rescues child from monster surf in heart-stopping video
California family members claim they were attacked at luxury Maui resort during violent melee
Leaked Document Reveals How Senate Republicans Plan to Walk Tightrope on SAVE America Act
19 cadets rushed to hospitals after mystery illness strikes military-style youth academy in DC area
Biden ghostwriter tapes released after former president forfeits legal battle
Biden’s classified docs narrative crumbles amid release of ghostwriter tapes: ‘Be careful’
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.