Monday, February 25, 2019

Ex-Clinton aides knock Sanders for private jet flights

Sanders, who recently declared his presidential candidacy for 2020, reportedly made repeated requests to use private jets for him and his staff while serving as a campaign surrogate for Clinton during the 2016 presidential campaign.

"I'm not shocked that while thousands of volunteers braved the heat and cold to knock on doors until their fingers bled in a desperate effort to stop , his Royal Majesty King Bernie Sanders would only deign to leave his plush D.C. office or his brand new second home on the lake if he was flown around on a cushy private jet like a billionaire master of the universe," Zac Petkanas, who was the director of rapid response for the Clinton campaign, told Politico.

Sanders's request for private jets reportedly became a point of conflict between him and the Clinton campaign, six former staffers and one other person familiar with the Vermont lawmaker's travel told the publication.

"Sen. Sanders campaigned so aggressively for Secretary Clinton, at such a grueling pace, it became a story unto itself, setting the model for how a former opponent can support a nominee in a general election."

Asked how Sanders will fly for his 2020 campaign, Jones said he "Will be flying commercial whenever possible. The campaign will consider the use of charter flights based on a variety of factors, including security requirements, logistics, and media interest in traveling with the senator."

Rania Batrice, who served as Sanders's deputy campaign manager at the end of his 2016 campaign, told Politico that "At no point did I ever say 'he has to have a private plane for the sake of having a private plane'" when discussing campaign travel with the Clinton campaign.

The Sanders campaign did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment on the report.

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/431389-ex-clinton-aides-knock-sanders-for-private-jet-flights

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