Jeff Weaver will not return as Bernie Sanders Campaign Director in 2020



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Jeff Weaver, the long-time assistant who ran for 2016, will not return to his role if Sanders entered the race, CNN was told a familiar source of the planning process.

Weaver confirmed in an interview that his post would be. change, the most likely strategic adviser Sanders, who is encouraged by supporters to enter the race soon. A decision is expected in the weeks or months to come.

This decision also underscores the understanding, both by Sanders' close associates and external donors, that Vermont Independent will need a more robust infrastructure and a diverse workforce to reach or surpass her goals. the support he received at the 2016 competition.

The source stated that Weaver's decision to reinstate his duties in another capacity had been taken long before new information about sexual harassment of the staff members working on the 2016 campaign. Sanders, Weaver and the Senator's Campaign Committee all expressed regret for this inappropriate behavior and pledged to strengthen safeguards.

"I am not going to tell you that we have done everything in terms of human resources, in terms of meeting the needs I just mentioned, that women felt disrespectful, that there was sexual harassment, which has not been treated as effectively as possible, "Sanders told CNN's Anderson Cooper last week, apologizing to" any woman who feels like not having been treated properly. "

When asked when he knew at the time the allegations, Sanders replied that he was not, adding : "I was a little busy running across the country trying to argue the case" – even a remark from concerned close allies could weaken his excuses.

Sanders and his team took steps after 2016 and before his 2018 Senate re-election campaign to tighten rules and restrictions, forcing employees to take training. course before joining them and offering them an 800 number for the filing of confidential complaints.

"Whether he's a presidential candidate or not, he takes seriously enough what he's heard after the 2016 campaign to put in place measures in 2018 and that's it that's very important, "said Nina Turner, a close confidante to Sanders and president of Our Revolution, a political action organization stemming from Sanders' success in 2016.

Weaver said on Wednesday that he had never intended to claim his title as of 2016, noting that he had a teenage son close to college, but that he hoped to play an active role in setting up place of the infrastructure of a second Sanders presidential campaign. 19659002] "If he decided to run again, Bernie should have a much stronger campaign structure with a much larger leadership team," Weaver said. "This should be a lot more diverse than in 2016, when it was too masculine and too white."

There is no clear favorite to replace Weaver as campaign manager if Sanders proceeds as planned, but one source told CNN that the infrastructure mapping process for a 2020 campaign is in an advanced stage. Outside organizers plan to hold hundreds of parties in the house next week to showcase their organizational potential. A boost to Sanders to confirm that his base support base remains engaged.

"For several months, efforts have been made to ensure that the door is open if Sanders decides to run for president," the source said. "This involves preliminary conversations with a number of high profile personalities who could take on leading roles in the campaign, including for the campaign manager."

Shannon Jackson, a longtime ally and Sanders assistant, led the 2018 Senator's re-election campaign. It is thought that he will not be a candidate for the same role in 2020.

"I have never intended to run a subsequent campaign if there was one", Weaver Weaver said Wednesday. "I think if you look at the presidential campaigners, the number of people who have run multiple campaigns is very low, I think I can be very helpful to Bernie, who is a leader, as a strategic advisor who must deal with some 30,000-foot problems as opposed to running a daily campaign. "

Weaver had been a contentious figure sometime in the 2016 campaign, but more often as a result of taking office following his appointment as head of Notre Revolution.

But according to one source, Weaver contacted former Sanders staff members, including those with whom he had already clashed, with the aim of restoring these relationships and possibly bringing them back into the community. Sanders is expected to have a much larger activity than in 2016.

Shortly after the launch of Our Revolution, staff members who played a key role in the digital and campaign organizing teams resigned from the group after persistent divergences with Weav.

Kenneth Pennington and Hector Sigala, two of the staff members who left, then co-founded the Middle Seat digital strategy company, which advised Texas' former Democratic representative, Beto O. Rourke, at the time. his 2018 campaign unsuccessful but captivating. topple Republican Senator Ted Cruz.

It is not known if Middle Seat would work again with O & Rourke when he decided to launch a presidential campaign.

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