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March 19, 2024

The latest: Russian diplomat scoffs at DNC hack allegations

Updated Monday, July 25, 2016 | 9:27 p.m.

PHILADELPHIA — The Latest on the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia (all times EDT):

11:27 p.m.

Russia's top diplomat is declining to fully comment on allegations that Russia was behind the hack of Democratic National Committee emails.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (SEHR'-gay LAHV'-rahf) is suggesting a proper response would involve vulgar language.

Lavrov was about the allegations as he began a meeting on Tuesday in Laos with Secretary of State John Kerry.

Lavrov answered in English: "Well, I don't want to use four-letter words."

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11:25 p.m.

Bernie Sanders says Hillary Clinton will make — in his words — "an outstanding president."

Sanders, who battled Clinton in the Democratic primaries, says he's known Clinton since she was first lady almost a quarter-century ago.

He credits Clinton with leading the fight for universal health care. He says Clinton, as a senator, was a "fierce advocate" for children's rights.

And Sanders is ending his speech at the Democratic National Convention by saying: "I am proud to stand with her tonight."

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11:23 p.m.

Many of Bernie Sanders' have disrupted the Democratic National Convention on Monday.

But the Vermont senator says he's going to "do all that I can" to ensure a Hillary Clinton presidency, along with a Democratic Senate and a Democratic House of Representatives.

Both chambers of Congress are now held by Republicans.

He said that "it is no secret that Hillary Clinton and I disagree on a number of issues" and that is what democracy is about.

But he said the two campaigns have produced together what is "by far, most progressive platform in the history of the Democratic party."

He said the platform calls for several of his priorities, including opposition to the Trans Pacific Partnership trade agreement.

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11:20 p.m.

Bernie Sanders says the presidential election should be about bringing people together, "not dividing us up."

He says presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton understands that diversity is one of her party's greatest strengths.

Sanders says in his speech at the Democratic National Convention that the United States becomes stronger when "black and white, Latino, Asian-American, Native American — when all of us stand together."

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11:10 p.m.

Bernie Sanders says the country has made much progress under President Barack Obama but there's more work to be done.

He says the 2016 presidential election is about the candidate who understands the "real problems" the country is facing and can offer solutions.

Sanders tells the Democratic National Convention that "by these measures, any objective observer will conclude that — based on her ideas and her leadership — Hillary Clinton must become the next president of the United States. The choice is not even close."

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10:50 p.m.

Bernie Sanders says no one is more disappointed than he is over not being the Democratic presidential nominee.

But the Vermont senator is urging his supporters to take "enormous pride" in the political revolution to transform America that they've started.

Sanders says in his speech at the Democratic National Convention that election days come and go.

But, he says, "the struggle of the people to create a government which represents all of us and not just the 1 percent - a government based on the principles economic, social, racial and environmental justice - that struggle continues."

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10:45 p.m.

Bernie Sanders is thanking his supporters and political donors whose contributions averaged what he says were $27 apiece.

Sanders is telling the Democratic National Convention that he's looking forward to receiving his 1,900 delegates' votes during Tuesday night's roll call.

The Vermont senator is underscoring his tough campaign against Hillary Clinton by recounting that he received 13 million votes, 46 percent of the total cast in Democratic primaries and caucuses.

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10:45 p.m.

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren says Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has excited Americans who are rightfully angry. But she says he's offering no solutions for their problems.

She tells the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia that Trump can see voter anger "from the top of Trump Tower" and tells voters that "he and he alone can fixed the rigged system."

Warren says the only actual clear policy proposal Trump offered in his own nomination acceptance last week was "a stupid wall" that "will never get built." Trump wants to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

But she says there was nothing in his speech about improving children's education, increasing incomes or creating

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10:43 p.m.

Elizabeth Warren is taking aim at Donald Trump's business record, and she says he's never "lifted a finger to help working people."

The Massachusetts senator is using her speech at the Democratic National Convention to highlight Trump's comments about benefiting from the 2008 housing crash — and she's noting his business bankruptcies.

Warren is asking: "What kind of a man acts like this? What kind of a man roots for an economic crash?"

She adds, "What kind of a man cheats students, cheats investors, cheats workers? A man who must never be president of the United States."

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10:40 p.m.

Elizabeth Warren is offering a harsh assessment of an American economy that she says is tilted against working people.

The liberal favorite and Massachusetts senator says "there's lots of wealth in America" but "it isn't trickling down to families like yours."

Instead, she tells delegates at the Democratic National Convention on Monday night, the "system is rigged" as "Americans bust their tails" while "wages stay flat."

Warren rejects those who say such an economy is a result of a Congress that isn't working. She says Congress works fine when corporations and the wealthy seek tax breaks and favorable regulations.

But she says, "try to do something for working people," and the "gridlock" ensues.

Warren says GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump's "whole life has been about taking advantage of that rigged system."

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10:30 p.m.

Elizabeth Warren says the choice in the presidential election is clear, and she says Republican nominee Donald Trump "cares about himself every minute of every day."

The Massachusetts senator is a favorite among liberals, and she's speaking at the Democrat National Convention on Monday night as the party tries to unite around Hillary Clinton after a divisive primary.

Warren tells the crowd: "I'm with Hillary. This choice is personal. It's about who we are as a people."

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10:20 p.m.

Michelle Obama says she wants a president who knows issues "cannot be boiled down to 140 characters."

Once again she's not mentioning Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump by name in her speech at the Democratic National Convention.

But she is citing his penchant for communicating on Twitter and says she wants someone who understands that issues aren't always clear.

And, she adds, "That's why in this election. I'm with her."

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10:15 p.m.

Michelle Obama says Hillary Clinton is advancing the cause for women so "all our sons and daughters now take for granted that a woman can be president of the United States."

The first lady also is linking Clinton's quest to be the first woman elected president and Barack Obama's historic tenure in the White as the first black president.

Michelle Obama recalls the history of black Americans who "felt the lash of bondage" and the "sting of segregation."

Michelle Obama says that now, she gets to "watch my daughters, two intelligent black young women, play with their dog on the White House lawn."

The first lady also is pushing back on Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's slogan to "make America great again."

She says, "Don't let anyone ever tell you that this country isn't great. That somehow we need to make it great again. Because this right now is the greatest country on earth."

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10:12 p.m.

California delegates backing Bernie Sanders are sitting still as Michelle Obama speaks at the Democratic National Convention, rather than starting chants as they did over other speakers.

Several yelled "no" when the first lady declared "I'm with her," a slogan for Clinton backers.

But the response is far more muted than the backlash that greeted other speakers. The California delegation has been one of the loudest on Monday night in expressing their opposition to Clinton.

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10:10 p.m.

Michelle Obama is offering an unequivocal endorsement for Hillary Clinton.

The first lady says Clinton — a former secretary of state, senator and first lady herself — is the "one person who I truly believe is qualified to be president of the United States."

Michelle Obama says in her speech at the Democratic National Convention that Clinton "never buckles under pressure." She says Clinton would be the kind of president that she wants for her own daughters.

Michelle Obama notes Clinton's reaction to her 2008 Democratic primary loss t Barack Obama. Michelle Obama says Clinton "didn't get angry or disillusioned" and "did not pack up and go home."

She says Clinton has "never quit on anything in her life."

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10:05 p.m.

Michelle Obama is calling out Donald Trump in her remarks at the Democratic National Convention.

The first lady says that "when someone is cruel or acts like a bully, we don't stoop to their level."

She's not mentioning the Republican presidential nominee by name, but she's is decrying what she calls "hateful language." She says that goes against what she tries to teach her children.

Her message? She says, "When they go low, we go high."

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9:50 p.m.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump seems to be reveling in the drama at the Democratic National Convention as he campaigns with running mate Mike Pence.

"What a mess they have going," Trump tells supporters Monday night at a rally in North Carolina.

Trump says rival Hillary Clinton made a mistake by not choosing a more liberal running mate to appease Bernie Sanders' supporters.

Trump says: "Crazy Bernie's going crazy right now."

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9:40 p.m.

A warmup speaker at a Donald Trump rally is calling President Barack Obama a racist.

Mark Burns is a black pastor who often speaks at Trump events, and last week he had a prime-time speaking slot at the Republican National Convention.

Burns said at a Trump event in North Carolina on Monday that "President Obama is the racist."

Burns also says Democrats should be ashamed for inviting the mother of Michael Brown to speak at their convention.

Michael Brown was the unarmed black 18-year-old who was shot to death by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri.

Burns contends the invitation reaffirms that blacks should be afraid of police.

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9:25 p.m.

Comedian Sarah Silverman is giving it straight to die-hard Bernie Sanders supporters.

Here's her message Monday night at the Democratic convention: "Can I just say to the Bernie or bust people, you're being ridiculous."

Silverman was one of a number of prominent entertainers who backed Sanders in the Democratic primary against Hillary Clinton. But Silverman is telling the crowd in Philadelphia — and a national television audience — that she plans to vote for Clinton.

The crowd broke into chants of "Bernie, Bernie," but Silverman quickly shot back with her quip.

As the crowd roared in applause, Minnesota Sen. Al Franken — standing next to Silverman — joked, "Listen to what you did."

Franken noted that because he was a Clinton backer and Silverman was with Sanders, they were forming a bridge.

"We're like a bridge over troubled water," he said, and they next went on to introduce singer Paul Simon.

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9:10 p.m.

Al Franken went to Harvard University, but at the Democratic National Convention, he's claiming a degree from Trump University instead.

The former "Saturday Night Live" comedian — who's now a Minnesota senator — jokes that he's a "world-renowned expert on right-wing megalomaniacs: Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly and now, Donald Trump."

Franken adds: "Now a little about my qualifications. I got my doctorate in megalomaniac studies from Trump University."

Trump — the Republican presidential nominee — faces lawsuits accusing him of defrauding customers at the now-defunct Trump University, which sold real estate seminars.

Franken asked the crowd of delegates if they knew that "Trump University's School of Ripping People Off is ranked second in the nation, right behind Bernie Madoff University?"

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8:50 p.m.

Democrats at their national convention are going after Donald Trump's business record.

Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania is questioning where the Republican presidential nominee's products were made.

Here's what Casey says: "Dress shirts - Bangladesh. Furniture - Turkey. Picture frames - India. Wine glasses - Slovenia. Neck ties - China."

He adds, "Why would Donald Trump make his products in every corner of the globe but not in Altoona, Erie or here in Philadelphia?"

And Sen. Kristen Gillibrand of New York recalls Trump's comments about U.S. wages being too high.

She says Democrat Hillary Clinton "knows that in the richest country in the world, it's unacceptable that a mom with two kids working full time still lives in poverty."

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8:40 p.m.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz is in the building.

The outgoing Democratic Party chairwoman is watching Monday's opening night of the national convention from a private suite at the Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia.

The Florida congresswoman's resignation from the party post will take effect Friday.

She stepped down after the release of hacked emails suggested staff at the Democratic National Committee favored Hillary Clinton over Bernie Sanders in party's presidential primaries.

Wasserman Schultz was heckled Monday morning when speaking to her home state's delegation at breakfast. She later decided against gaveling in the convention amid concerns she'd draw more ire from Sanders supporters.

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8:25 p.m.

Hillary Clinton was campaigning in Las Vegas earlier this year when she heard directly from a young girl who was worried because her parents are living in the United States illegally.

Now 11-year-old Karla Oritz has told her story to a national audience — from the stage at the Democratic National Convention.

Karla's an American citizen who appeared with her mother at the Philadelphia gathering. Karla says she worries about what might happen if she comes home and finds her house empty.

That conversation she had with Clinton in Las Vegas ended up as part of a television ad for the Clinton campaign.

Karla says she remember how Clinton called her brave. The youngster says she wants to grow up to be a lawyer, so that "I can help other families like us."

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8:15 p.m.

Liberal stalwart Elizabeth Warren is using her Democratic convention speech to make clear her view that Americans won't fall for Donald Trump's plan to fan what she calls "the flames of fear and hatred."

The Massachusetts Democrat says in excerpts of a speech she plans to deliver later Monday that the Republican presidential nominee is peddling an old story of "divide and conquer."

Warren says Trump thinks he can win votes "by turning neighbor against neighbor" and by persuading voters that the source of their problems is "people who don't look like you, or don't talk like or don't worship like you."

She says bankers, oil companies and giant corporations benefit "when we turn on each other."

Warren says a divided America can't "fight back against a rigged system." She says "the American people are not falling for" Trump's divisive rhetoric.

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8:05 p.m.

Cory Booker is calling for the Democratic party to unite around Hillary Clinton — and the Democratic senator from New Jersey says Clinton would be a champion for the poor as president.

Remarks of Booker's speech at the party's convention have come out before his remarks later Monday. He says Clinton would measure America's greatness not by the number of millionaires and billionaires, but by how few people are living in poverty.

Booker says the country doesn't always have to agree, but the U.S. can't became a place "where our highest aspiration is that we just tolerate each other."

Booker also champions debt-free college, which he says represents the best of the Democratic party.

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8 p.m.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (KEER'-sten JIHL'-uh-brand) says Hillary Clinton is the presidential candidate for paid family leave and equal pay for women.

The New York lawmaker says Clinton's life work has been defined by this single question: "How we help those who need it most?"

Gillibrand says that stands in contrast to what she says is Donald Trump's defining question: "How can I help myself most?"

Excerpts of Gillibrand's speech were released before she was to take the podium at the Democratic National Convention on Monday night.

Gillibrand, who succeeded Clinton as a New York senator, says: "The choice in this election couldn't be clearer."

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7:55 p.m.

Singer Demi Lovato is belting out her hit "Confident" at the Democratic National Convention.

Lovato performed for presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in Iowa during the campaign, and she's one of the first bold-faced names to appear on the convention stage.

The convention opened with a performance from Boyz II Men. Paul Simon is set to perform later Monday, and delegates are set to hear from actress and activist Eva Longoria.

Before performing, Lovato told the crowd of delegates at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia that "like millions of Americans, I am living with mental illness."

She says, "But I am lucky. I had the resources and support to get treatment at a top facility." She says Hillary Clinton will help Americans in need of care get the treatment they require.

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6:55 p.m.

Hillary Clinton may not be in Philadelphia yet, but her husband has started the charm offensive at the Democratic National Convention.

An aide to former President Bill Clinton has met with members of Congress during a private reception at the Wells Fargo Arena.

Hillary Clinton plans to spend the night at her home in suburban New York after campaigning earlier in North Carolina.

The Clinton campaign has been careful not to have Bill Clinton overshadow his wife's efforts. But he's been an effective supporter, often speaking in smaller cities where Hillary Clinton might not have time to campaign.

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6:50 p.m.

"I wouldn't vote for her for dog catcher."

That's the sentiment of a Bernie Sanders delegate when talking about whether she'd support Hillary Clinton.

"No, never in a million years" — Melissa Arab of Shelby Township, Michigan, is making abundantly clear.

She says she's going to work as hard as she can to make Sanders the Democratic nominee for president.

She says "that's what I'm pledged to do and that's what Bernie told me to do."

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6:20 p.m.

Bernie Sanders' supporters are getting plenty of time at the podium at the Democratic National Convention.

Some key backers of the Vermont senator were late additions to Monday night's program — in an effort to promote party unity.

Tensions are simmering on the convention's opening night as Sanders' allies celebrate the onetime presidential candidate and advocate for Hillary Clinton's election.

Among those added are two strong Sanders supporters — Maine lawmaker Diane Russell and former NAACP president Ben Jealous.

Jealous is praised the party platform and saying, "Join us at the ballot box and we will elect Hillary Clinton as president of these United States."

Some frustrated Sanders fans are continuing to boo at the mention of Clinton's name.

5:50 p.m.

Bernie Sanders may have asked his supporters as a "personal courtesy" not to protest at the Democratic convention — but not everyone's willing to heed that request.

Michigan delegate Bruce Fealk says he understands Sanders' position and understands why the Vermont senator is making the request.

But Fealk also says: "I'm really annoyed. ... I haven't decided yet. I want to support Bernie, but I also want to voice my displeasure with the Democratic Party."

Fealk says he sees the hacked party emails as a revelation, and says they show the party's disrespect for progressives.

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5:35 p.m.

A Bernie Sanders supporter has taken the stage at the Democratic convention and has two missions.

Diane Russell — a Maine lawmaker — is trying to sell delegates on the compromise that's been reached on the future role of superdelegates in the nominating process.

And she's stressing her support for Hillary Clinton.

Russell led an effort to abolish superdelegates — they're the party insiders who can cast their convention vote for the candidate of their choice.

She's using her convention speech to praise a deal by the party's rules committee that establishes a commission" to review the nominating process.

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5:25 p.m.

A Democratic official says Bernie Sanders' campaign has urgently reached out to Hillary Clinton's team to express concerns that tensions are still raw among Sanders delegates.

They're fuming about hacked party emails that already have led to the ouster of the head of the Democratic National Committee, Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

Aides to Clinton and Sanders have met in hopes of forming a plan to avoid excessive disruptions on the convention floor.

The Democratic official spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss the private discussions.

Sanders has sent out a text message and an email to delegates urging them not to engage in protests on the floor as a "personal courtesy" to him.

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5:05 p.m.

Bernie Sanders is urging supporters not to demonstrate on the floor of the Democratic National Convention.

He's sending out text messages and emails with his personal request.

Sanders is characterizing the request "as a personal courtesy to me" and urging his followers to "not engage in any kind of protest on the floor."

The Vermont senator says it is of the "utmost importance" that this be explained to the state delegations.

Sanders say "our credibility as a movement will be damaged by booing, turning of backs, walking out or other similar displays."

The challenger to Hillary Clinton is speaking later Monday at the Philadelphia convention.

It comes as many of his supporters contend the Democratic National Committee failed to be neutral during the primaries.

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5 p.m.

The Ohio congresswoman who's the chair of the Democratic National Convention is getting an earful from a rowdy group of delegates in the convention's opening moments.

During Marcia Fudge's opening remarks, she is being halted by boos and chants from Bernie Sanders' delegates at any mention of presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton.

But also cheers — from Clinton's supporters. At one point, there were chants of "Let her speak!"

Fudge is asking for respect and promising to deliver it in turn.

She says, "We are all Democrats and we need to act like it."

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4:55 p.m.

Donald Trump is suggesting China may have been involved in the hack of the Democratic National Committee's email system — even though there's no evidence to indicate Chinese involvement.

Trump made the comment at an event in Virginia — and it comes in reference to the decision by Democratic National Committee head Debbie Wasserman Schultz to step down in the wake of the email disclosure.

Here's what Trump said, with sarcasm: "Little did she know that China, Russia — one of our many, many friends — came in and hacked the hell out of us."

The cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike Inc. discovered traces of at least two sophisticated hacking groups on the Democrats' network — and both have ties to the Russian government.

Trump's campaign has laughed off suggestions that the Russians may be trying to influence the election in the Republican's favor.

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4:50 p.m.

Donald Trump says Hillary Clinton made a mistake when she picked Tim Kaine as her running mate. Trump says the Virginia senator is "the opposite" of what supporters of Clinton rival Bernie Sanders wanted.

Trump says Clinton should have picked a more liberal running mate to satisfy Sanders' supporters.

Trump calls Kaine "a weird little dude" and a political "hack," and says Kaine's record is far eclipsed by that of the GOP vice presidential candidate, Indiana Gov, Mike Pence.

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4:45 p.m.

The Democratic National Committee is offering its "deep and sincere apology" to Bernie Sanders, his supporters and the entire party for what it calls "the inexcusable remarks made over email."

The statement from incoming interim party leader, Donna Brazile, and six other officials says the comments in the emails "do not reflect the values of the DNC or our steadfast commitment to neutrality during the nominating process."

The statement says the party won't tolerate disrespectful language.

The statement wasn't signed by the outgoing DNC head, Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

She announced on Sunday that she'd step down from that job at the end of this week's Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

The emails suggested party officials favored Clinton over rival Sanders during the primaries.

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4:15 p.m.

Democrats have gaveled in their convention in Philadelphia — after a day of discord that sent the party chief into exile.

It was Baltimore's mayor, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, who called the 47th Democratic convention to order. Her formal welcome was briefly held up a slight oversight — she forgot the gavel and had to retrieve it off stage.

Rawlings-Blake is a last-minute fill-in Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the ousted Democratic National Committee leader.

The Florida congresswoman was forced out of her post by a trove of leaked emails that appeared to show DNC officials favored Hillary Clinton over Sanders in their fierce primary fight. She's set to step down from the party job after the convention.

Rawlings-Blake serves as secretary of the DNC.

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4 p.m.

Donald Trump says the Democrats' outgoing party head, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, is "highly over-rated," and he's accusing Hillary Clinton of throwing Wasserman Schultz "under the bus."

Trump tells supporters in Roanoke, Virginia, that Clinton's "disloyalty was incredible" for allowing Wasserman Schultz to be pushed out.

Her exit comes after the release of hacked emails that suggest some Democratic National Committee staff members favored Clinton over primary rival Bernie Sanders.

Trump claims Wasserman Schultz "worked very hard to rig the system" in Clinton's favor.

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3:34 p.m.

Hillary Clinton says she opposes a Senate bill that would slow growth rates for housing and education benefits for veterans. Some veterans groups call that a cut, since benefits may not keep up with inflation.

Clinton told the Veterans of Foreign Wars Monday that she would fight against the cuts, which are part of a larger bill to reform the scandal-plagued Department of Veterans Affairs and make it easier to fire employees for wrongdoing.

Clinton faulted Republicans for "chipping away" at veterans benefits and vowed to "protect, preserve and defend the post-9/11 GI Bill."

Republicans immediately pointed out that 28 Democrats have co-sponsored the Senate bill, including Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, Clinton's newly announced running mate.

Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire has blocked the measure in the Senate.

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3:31 p.m.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his running mate, Mike Pence, are holding their first campaign event since departing last week's convention in Cleveland, Ohio.

The Indiana governor is introducing Trump at a town hall event in Roanoke, Virginia. He says that Trump understands voters' frustrations like no nominee since Ronald Reagan. And he says the Democrats are only promising more of the same.

Pence says, "The American people want a president who will put law and order first at home and confront our enemies" abroad.

Trump is planning a busy week of events as the Democrats hold their convention in Philadelphia.

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2:38 p.m.

The White House is pitching first lady Michelle Obama's speech Monday night as a barometer of party unity.

Democrats are trying to overcome anger from Bernie Sanders supporters to the leaked emails indicating staffers at the Democratic National Committee favored Clinton over Sanders.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest says he's confident Mrs. Obama will be warmly received at the Democratic National Convention. He says the first lady will give voice to the values and agenda that the Obama administration has pursued over the past seven years.

The White House says Mrs. Obama plans to talk about the role the president plays in the lives of children, shaping their values and aspirations, and why she believes Clinton is the leader with the ability to best fill that role.

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2:33 p.m.

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has been chosen to gavel in the full convention on Monday in place of Democratic Party chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

Anthony McCarthy, a spokesman for the mayor, confirmed Monday she has accepted the role.

Rawlings-Blake currently serves as secretary of the Democratic National Committee.

___

2:27 p.m.

Former Vice President Al Gore is endorsing Hillary Clinton for president, but he says he is "not able" to attend the Democratic National Convention this week.

In a trio of tweets Monday, Gore said that he's voting for Clinton "given her qualifications and experience — and given the significant challenges facing our nation and the world." He did not tweet his reason for not attending the nominating convention.

Gore, an outspoken activist on the issue of global warming, specifically said that Clinton would help to raise awareness on the issue.

Gore was the Democratic nominee for president in 2000, but he lost the general election in a highly contentious race against George W. Bush.

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2:23 p.m.

Delegates for Bernie Sanders say they do not want to be taken for granted as the Democratic Party falls behind Hillary Clinton and nominates her for president this week.

Amos Miers of St. Petersburg, Fla., said Sanders should do more explaining before instructing supporters of his year-long challenge to Clinton. He says Sanders' supporters are "not going to get steamrolled."

Colorado delegate Anita Lynchsaid she "had to boo" and wants to take some type of action later on the convention floor. She wore a shirt depicting Sanders as a muppet.

They and other delegates pledged to Sanders booed him when he called for Clinton's election to the presidency.

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1:50 p.m.

Bernie Sanders drew boos and angry chants from his delegates as he called for the election of Hillary Clinton.

Many in the crowd chanted, "We want Bernie" as Democrats gathered in Philadelphia to nominate Clinton.

Sanders responded to his supporters with pragmatism; Clinton weeks ago locked up the number of delegates she needs to win the nomination. Sanders said, "This is the real world." He added that electing Clinton was the way to stop Republican Donald Trump, who he described as "a bully and a demagogue," from becoming president.

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1:36 p.m.

Outgoing Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman says she won't gavel her party's national convention to order on Monday afternoon.

She abruptly cancelled that plan just a few hours before she was to gavel open the nominating convention. In a brief phone conversation with the Sun Sentinel newspaper of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Wasserman Schultz said:

"I have decided that in the interest of making sure that we can start the Democratic convention on a high note that I am not going to gavel in the convention."

The Florida congresswoman had announced she would resign her post at the helm of the DNC in the wake of an email scandal involving her aides — but still gavel open and closed the Democrats' nominating convention this week. That was before she was booed and heckled as she spoke to her home state delegation from people angry that the hacked emails apparently showed some aides favored Hillary Clinton over Bernie Sanders in the party's presidential primary.

She added in her comments to the newspaper: "This needs to be all about making sure that everyone knows that Hillary Clinton would make the best president."

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1:23 p.m.

Bernie Sanders says that Debbie Wasserman Schultz's departure from the Democratic National Committee will "open the doors of the party to people who want real change."

To roaring cheers from delegates in Philadelphia, Sanders also touted progressive wins in the Democratic party platform and over future nominating rules. Many of his supporters ?— frustrated by the primary process and the recent leaked emails from Democratic party officials —? have been threatening protests at the DNC.

Sanders says his supporters should continue to push for the "transformation of American society."

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1:17 p.m.

Bernie Sanders is thanking his delegates at a meeting before the Democratic National Convention, saying "make no mistake about it, we have made history."

Sanders addressed over a thousand delegates packed into a ballroom at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, in advance of the Democratic National Convention. Many of his supporters ?— frustrated by the primary process and the recent leaked emails from Democratic party officials —? have been threatening protests at the DNC.

To wild cheers, Sanders said his candidacy proved that "the American people want a bold progressive agenda that takes on the billionaire class."

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1:00 p.m.

Former Vice President Al Gore is not attending the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia this week.

Spokeswoman Betsy McManus told The Tennessean newspaper that Gore has "obligations in Tennessee," but she did not elaborate.

Gore is one of eight Tennessee superdelegates, but he has not pledged his support to presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton.

Gore was a Tennessee U.S. senator before joining Bill Clinton's presidential ticket in 1992. Gore lost the 2000 presidential race to Republican George W. Bush.

Since then Gore has become increasingly less active in electoral politics and more active in environmental causes, sharing the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for that effort.

Gore spoke on behalf of Democratic nominees John Kerry in 2004 and Barack Obama in 2008, but he did not attend the 2012 convention.

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12:08 p.m.

Hillary Clinton is offering a scathing critique of rival Donald Trump's foreign policy, saying she "doesn't understand people who trash talk about America."

Clinton slammed many of Trump's positions without mentioning his name. She vowed to stand by American allies, fight dictators and listen to the advice of military officials.

Clinton is speaking at the annual conference of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a non-profit that supports veterans, during a campaign swing through Charlotte, North Carolina.

Recent polling has shown active duty troops backing Trump over Clinton by more than a two to one margin.

Clinton noted her role as the first female presidential nominee of a major political party, saying history-making position "takes a little getting used to even for me." The statement was unusual acknowledgement by Clinton that there may be some voters, particularly within the military, that take issue with a female commander-in-chief.

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11:40 a.m.

Tim Kaine is getting another chance to show off his Spanish skills in an interview with Spanish-language network Telemundo.

The network says Hillary Clinton's pick for her running mate will discuss immigration reform, the leak of Democratic National Committee emails and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, among other topics.

The interview will air on Monday at 6:30 p.m.

Kaine is fluent in Spanish thanks in part to a year in Honduras as a Catholic missionary before graduating from law school. The Clinton campaign is working hard to woo Hispanic voters and Kaine also opened his remarks in Spanish on Sunday when he was formally announced as Clinton's vice presidential pick.

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11:37 a.m.

The FBI has confirmed that agents are investigating a cyberattack involving the Democratic National Committee that resulted in the release this weekend in embarrassing emails.

In a statement Monday, the FBI said it was investigating a "cyber intrusion" affecting the DNC and was "working to determine the nature and scope of the matter."

The FBI said it will "continue to investigate and hold accountable those who pose a threat in cyberspace."

Emails arising from the hack were posted over the weekend to WikiLeaks. Their release led party chief Debbie Wasserman Schultz to announce her resignation.

A cybersecurity firm that looked into the DNC breach found traces of at least two sophisticated hacking groups on the Democrats' network — both of which have ties to the Russian government.

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11:31 a.m.

A delegate for Bernie Sanders says the yelling and chanting might not be over for outgoing Democratic chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

Karen Bernal, a Sanders delegate from Sacramento, Calif., said Monday that she expected disruptions if Wasserman Schultz takes the stage as planned. The Florida congresswoman was booed and heckled as she tried to speak to her home state delegation Monday after emails by her staff revealed some DNC members sided with Sanders in the Democratic primaries. Wasserman Schultz said she will gavel open and close the convention and then resign.

Bernal appeared at a news conference on behalf of an independent network of Sanders delegates. The coordinator of that effort, Norman Solomon, from Point Reyes Station, California, questioned the timing of her departure, saying: "She's resigning as of Friday? Why wait until Friday?"

Solomon, whose group communicates with 1,250 Sanders delegates, said Sanders delegates were weighing a number of floor protest actions this week. He said the Sanders campaign has not contacted his group to encourage them to not protest.

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11:05 a.m.

Bernie Sanders' delegates are waiting to see whether the Vermont senator frees them to vote for Hillary Clinton in Tuesday's roll call.

Nebraska delegate Jeff Leanna says the topic was a top discussion item at a breakfast meeting involving his state, Colorado and Nevada. He says regional members of the Clinton campaign were reaching out to some delegates to see if they would be willing to switch. Leanna says he's willing to cross over if Sanders agrees to release them during a private meeting with delegates Monday.

Louise Edington of Utah says most in her delegation also were discussing but not revealing what they might do. Sanders won that state with nearly 80 percent of the vote.

Sanders won 1,846 pledged delegates from primaries and caucuses.

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10:57 a.m.

Donald Trump will take questions from the public on a web forum during the third night of the Democratic National Convention.

The Republican presidential nominee will participate in an "Ask Me Anything" event Wednesday night on Reddit. Users can begin asking questions at 6:30 p.m. and Trump will start responding at 7 p.m.

No topics are off limits on the forums, which have become a popular Internet staple.

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Hillary Clinton's campaign manager, Robby Mook, is boasting there will be many differences between the Democratic convention now getting under way in Philadelphia and last week's GOP convention in Cleveland.

Among them: the governor of Pennsylvania, Democrat Tom Wolf, has endorsed Clinton — unlike Ohio's GOP Gov. John Kasich, who has not backed Donald Trump and was conspicuously absent last week.

Mook also points out that Sen. Bernie Sanders has endorsed Clinton, and will be "doubling down" on that endorsement in a speech later Monday. In Cleveland, on the other hand, Sen. Ted Cruz withheld his backing for Trump and encouraged Republicans to vote their conscience.

Mook says the overall message is going to be "optimistic" and "hopeful" — "a big contrast to what we saw in Cleveland last week."

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9:56 a.m.

Hillary Clinton's campaign manager says there's no comparison between the disunity at the Republican convention and the state of the Democratic Party.

Robby Mook is noting that no living Republican presidents attended the GOP convention, nor did the governor of Ohio, which hosted the gathering. He says in contrast, "Everybody is actually showing up at our convention and they're endorsing Hillary Clinton."

He sidestepped questions about the role of ousted Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz's role at the convention. He says it was "her decision" to step down at the end of the convention.

Mook spoke to reporters at a Bloomberg breakfast.

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9:54 a.m.

Vice President Joe Biden will hold his first campaign rally for Hillary Clinton next month in his hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Biden had planned to campaign for Clinton earlier this month but postponed the event after five police officers were killed in Dallas. That incident also led Clinton's GOP rival Donald Trump to scrap events.

The White House says Biden will now travel to Scranton on August 15. The locale has dual significance — it's also where Clinton's father lived for years.

The rally will come nearly three weeks after Biden speaks Wednesday at the Democratic National Convention. Biden has endorsed Clinton and promised to campaign hard for her but was seen as a potential chief rival to her had he run for president. He opted out last year.

___

9:38 a.m.

Furious protesters nearly drowned out Debbie Wasserman Schultz' speech to her home state delegation Monday, crowding the stage and screaming, "You're ruining our democracy!"

A row of police officers stood between the stage and the protesters as the Florida congresswoman, who is up for re-election, finished her speech. Several of her supporters stood on chairs and waved T-shirts bearing her name, whole some yelled at the Sanders' supporters to step back or sit down.

The Sanders' supporters held paper signs that said "E-mails" on one side and "Thanks for the 'help' Debbie," on the other.

Wasserman Schultz announced Sunday she would step down from the party chairmanship after the convention this week. She was pressured to resign after hacked emails revealed the DNC may have favored Hillary Clinton over Bernie Sanders during the party's presidential primaries.

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