Chaotic start to Democratic National Convention after email leak
The Democratic National Convention officially opens in Philadelphia but party chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz kept her distance from the gavel ceremony.
The last-minute decision came after she was heckled by some delegates today over leaked emails that showed DNC officials plotted against Bernie Sanders during the primaries.
The new chair of the party had a difficult time getting control of the crowd in Philadelphia as the convention began, booing at the mention of Hillary Clinton.
Shouts of "shame" greeted Florida congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz at a breakfast Monday for the Florida delegation here at the Democratic National Convention.
Wasserman Schultz announced she's now working for the Hillary Clinton campaign. She'll resign her post as chair of the Democratic National Committee at the end of the convention after the leak of thousands of emails revealed an effort underway within the DNC to favor the Clinton campaign and undermine Bernie Sanders during the primaries.
"I came in Saturday morning early and I met with his delegates and I told them on behalf of the party I wanted to apologize for the salacious, insensitive, very mean-spirited emails," said Donna Brazile, interim DNC chair.
Brazile will be taking over as interim chair of the DNC - and Ohio Representative Marcia Fudge will preside over the convention.
"We are really excited about what he have planned this week," said Rev. Leah Daughtry, DNC CEO. "And what we will showcase to the nation."
Speakers supporting Hillary Clinton on this first night of the convention include senators Cory Booker and Elizabeth Warren as well as first lady Michelle Obama. But many will be focused on the speech Monday night by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.
It will be seen as an important effort to try unify the party behind Hillary Clinton to defeat Donald Trump.
"Our goal is to bring the Bernie supporters and the Hillary supporters here today in this convention try to bring it together - tonight's theme is unity," said Chuck Rocha, senior adviser to the Sanders campaign.
A theme this Sanders delegate from Birmingham, Michigan - says is priority No. 1.
"I'm hardcore Bernie because I believe in his outlook and his vision," said Mike Whitty. "But I'm totally in favor of unity and defeating the hate-filled GOP platform."