Sanders Calls for Wasserman Schultz to Resign After Email Leaks

Sen. Bernie Sanders said Sunday that in the wake of the leaked emails from the Democratic National Committee, "Debbie Wasserman Schultz should resign, period" as chair of the DNC.

"I told you long time ago that the DNC was not running a fair operation, that they were supporting Secretary Clinton," Sanders told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos Sunday on "This Week." "So what I suggested to be true six months ago turned out to be true."

Sanders says he is "disappointed" by what the leaked emails show but "not shocked."

WikiLeaks released about 20,000 emails on Friday, just days before Democratic National Convention is set to kick off in Philadelphia, that appear to show Democratic National Committee officials attempting to aid Hillary Clinton's campaign in the party's primary.

Several of the emails released indicate that the officials, including Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, grew increasingly agitated with Sanders and his campaign as the primary season advanced.

One email exchange suggested bringing up Sanders' religious beliefs as a way to hurt his campaign in parts of the country.

"It might may [sic] no difference, but for KY and WA can we get someone to ask his belief," Brad Marshall, CFO of DNC, wrote in an email on May 5, 2016. "Does he believe in God. He had skated on saying he has a Jewish heritage. I read he is an atheist. This could make several points difference with my peeps. My southern baptist peeps would draw a big difference between a Jew and an atheist."

Amy Dacey, CEO of the DNC, subsequently responded "AMEN," according to the emails.

In some of the emails, Wasserman Schultz appears increasingly frustrated with Sanders' campaign.

In the wake of the email leak, Democratic Party officials are negotiating to significantly downgrade the public role of Wasserman Schultz at the convention, according to a top Democratic Party source. Party officials are considering as one possibility finding someone besides the DNC chairwoman to preside over the convention, possibly by naming a new permanent chairperson for the convention but not for the Democratic National Committee itself, the source said.

The party's officials fear that displaying Wasserman Schultz in a prominent role would lead to booing on the convention floor from the Sanders' supporters and delegates.