Editing Democratic National Committee (section)

== History ==
The DNC has existed since 1848.<ref name=cyclopedia-committees-party>{{cite book|title=Cyclopedia of American Government|volume=1|editor1-first=Andrew Cunningham|editor1-last=McLaughlin|editor1-link=Andrew C. McLaughlin|editor2-first=Albert|editor2-last=Bushnell Hart|editor2-link=Albert Bushnell Hart|year=1914|chapter=Committees, Party|pages=361–363|first=Jesse|last=Macy|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fyA6AQAAIAAJ&pg=PA361}}</ref> During the [[1848 Democratic National Convention]], a resolution was passed creating the Democratic National Committee, composed of thirty members, one person per state, chosen by the states' delegations, and chaired by [[Benjamin F. Hallett]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Democratic National Committee, 1830–1876|first=Joseph Edwin|last=Howe|year=1919|publisher=[[University of Wisconsin–Madison]]|type=Master's thesis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j302AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA5 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>

In order to strengthen the national party organization, [[Franklin D. Roosevelt|Franklin Roosevelt]] proposed in 1925 that the DNC should open a permanent headquarters in order to function "every day in every year" and exist on a "business-like financial basis." In 1929, [[John J. Raskob|John Raskob]] led the creation of the first permanent national headquarters for the DNC in Washington, DC.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Reichey |first=A. James |title=The Life of the Parties: A History of American Political Parties |publisher=The Free Press |year=1992 |isbn=0-02-926025-6 |pages=257}}</ref>

=== Watergate ===
{{Main|Watergate scandal}}
In the 1970s, the DNC had its head office, located in the [[Watergate complex]] at the time, burglarized by entities working for [[Richard Nixon]]'s [[Presidency of Richard Nixon|administration]] during the [[Watergate scandal]].

=== Chinagate ===
{{main|1996 United States campaign finance controversy}}
Chinagate was an alleged effort by the [[China|People's Republic of China]] to influence domestic American politics prior to and during the [[Bill Clinton|Clinton administration]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/05/21/trie/ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060805092557/http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/05/21/trie/|title=Fund-raiser Charlie Trie pleads guilty under plea agreement|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=May 21, 1999|archive-date=August 5, 2006}}</ref> In 2002, the [[Federal Election Commission]] fined the Democratic National Committee $115,000 for its part in [[1996 United States campaign finance controversy|fundraising violations in 1996]].<ref>{{cite news|url= http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/09/23/elec02.fec.dnc/ |title=DNC fined for illegal 1996 fund raising|work=[[CNN]]| date=September 23, 2002|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080514033625/http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/09/23/elec02.fec.dnc/ |archive-date=May 14, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Cyber attacks ===
{{Main|Democratic National Committee cyber attacks}}
[[File:DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz speaks to College Democrats.jpg|thumb|[[Debbie Wasserman Schultz]] served as DNC chair from 2011 to 2016.]]
[[Cyberattack|Cyber attacks]] and [[Security hacker|hacks]] were claimed by or attributed to various individual and groups such as:
* According to committee officials and security experts, two competing [[Foreign Intelligence Service (Russia)|Russian intelligence]] services were discovered on [[Democratic National Committee cyber attacks|DNC computer networks]]. One intelligence service achieved infiltration beginning in the summer of 2015 and the other service breached and roamed the network beginning in April 2016. The two groups accessed emails, chats, and research on an opposing presidential candidate. They were expelled from the DNC system in June 2016.<ref name="nakash">{{cite news |last=Nakashima |first=Ellem |title=Russian government hackers penetrated DNC, stole opposition research on Trump |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |location=Washington, D.C. |date=14 June 2016 |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/russian-government-hackers_us_576025aae4b053d433065923 |access-date=22 July 2016 |archive-date=June 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160620150039/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/russian-government-hackers_us_576025aae4b053d433065923 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/lone-hacker-claims-responsibility-cyber-attack-democrats-n593491|title='Lone Hacker' Claims Responsibility for Cyber Attack on Democrats|date=2016-06-16|work=[[NBC News]]|access-date=2016-07-27|archive-date=July 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160728092152/http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/lone-hacker-claims-responsibility-cyber-attack-democrats-n593491|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="sanger-cora">{{cite news |last1=Sanger |first1=David E. |last2=Corasaniti |first2=Rick |location=New York City |title=D.N.C. Says Russian Hackers Penetrated Its Files, Including Dossier on Donald Trump |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=14 June 2016 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/15/us/politics/russian-hackers-dnc-trump.html |access-date=24 July 2016 |archive-date=July 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725090932/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/15/us/politics/russian-hackers-dnc-trump.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* The [[Security hacker|hacker]] [[Guccifer 2.0]] claimed that he hacked into the Democratic National Committee computer network and then leaked its emails to the newspaper [[The Hill (newspaper)|''The Hill'']].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/287558-guccifer-20-drops-new-dnc-docs/|title=Guccifer 2.0 releases new DNC docs|last=Uchill|first=Joe|date=2016-07-13|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|access-date=2016-07-27|archive-date=July 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729012045/http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/287558-guccifer-20-drops-new-dnc-docs|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/288119-new-guccifer-20-dump-highlights-wobbly-dems-on-iran-deal/|title=New Guccifer 2.0 dump highlights 'wobbly Dems' on Iran deal|last=Joe|first=Uchill|date=2016-07-18|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|access-date=2016-07-27|archive-date=July 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729012053/http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/288119-new-guccifer-20-dump-highlights-wobbly-dems-on-iran-deal|url-status=live}}</ref> During a CNN interview with Jake Tapper, Hillary Clinton's campaign manager, [[Robby Mook]], cited experts saying that the DNC emails were leaked by the Russians but did not name the experts.<ref name="auto">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/03/05/the-russian-interference-fight-was-encapsulated-in-one-cnn-show-in-july-2016/|title=The Russian interference fight was encapsulated in one CNN show in July 2016|last=Bump|first=Philip|date=March 5, 2018|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=2016-07-27|archive-date=September 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921045701/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/03/05/the-russian-interference-fight-was-encapsulated-in-one-cnn-show-in-july-2016/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.democracynow.org/2016/7/25/exclusive_wikileaks_julian_assange_on_releasing|title=EXCLUSIVE: WikiLeaks' Julian Assange on Releasing DNC Emails That Ousted Debbie Wasserman Schultz|date=2016-07-25|website=[[Democracy Now!]]|access-date=2016-07-27|archive-date=March 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190318075314/https://www.democracynow.org/2016/7/25/exclusive_wikileaks_julian_assange_on_releasing|url-status=live}}</ref> The press and cybersecurity firms discredited the Guccifer 2.0 claim, as investigators now believe Guccifer 2.0 was an agent of the G.R.U., [[GRU (G.U.)|Russia's military intelligence]] service.<ref name="nakash" /><ref name="sanger-cora" /><ref name="alperovitch">{{cite news |last=Alperovitch |first=Dmitri |title=Bears in the Midst: Intrusion into the Democratic National Committee |newspaper=From The Front Lines |publisher=[[CrowdStrike, Inc.]] |date=15 June 2016 |url=https://www.crowdstrike.com/blog/bears-midst-intrusion-democratic-national-committee/ |access-date=22 July 2016 |archive-date=May 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524090240/https://www.crowdstrike.com/blog/bears-midst-intrusion-democratic-national-committee/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sanger |first1=David E. |last2=Schmitt |first2=Eric |date=July 26, 2016 |title=Spy Agency Consensus Grows That Russia Hacked D.N.C. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/27/us/politics/spy-agency-consensus-grows-that-russia-hacked-dnc.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=July 27, 2016 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502041948/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/27/us/politics/spy-agency-consensus-grows-that-russia-hacked-dnc.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===2016 email leak===
{{Main|2016 Democratic National Committee email leak}}
{{see also|Wilding v. DNC Services Corp.}}
On July 22, 2016, WikiLeaks released approximately 20,000 DNC emails.<ref>{{cite web|title=WikiLeaks - Search the DNC email database|url=https://wikileaks.org/dnc-emails/|publisher=[[WikiLeaks]]|access-date=3 August 2016|date=22 July 2016|archive-date=July 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160723215733/https://wikileaks.org/dnc-emails/|url-status=live}}</ref> Critics claimed that the Committee unequally favored [[Hillary Clinton]] and acted in support of her nomination while opposing the candidacy of her primary challenger [[Bernie Sanders]]. [[Donna Brazile]] corroborated these allegations in an excerpt of her book published by ''[[Politico]]'' in November 2017.<ref>{{cite news|last=Brazile|first=Donna|author-link=Donna Brazile|date=November 2, 2017|title=Inside Hillary Clinton's Secret Takeover of the DNC|url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/11/02/clinton-brazile-hacks-2016-215774|work=[[Politico]]|access-date=November 4, 2017|archive-date=November 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171105233621/https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/11/02/clinton-brazile-hacks-2016-215774|url-status=live}}</ref> The leaked emails spanned sixteen months, terminating in May 2016.<ref name=":2">{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/288883-wikileaks-posts-20000-dnc-emails/|title=WikiLeaks posts 20,000 DNC emails|last=Uchill|first=Joe|date=2016-07-22|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|language=en-US|access-date=2016-07-23|archive-date=July 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160725134552/http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/288883-wikileaks-posts-20000-dnc-emails|url-status=live}}</ref>

The WikiLeaks releases led to the resignations of Chairperson Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Communications Director Luis Miranda, Chief Financial Officer Brad Marshall and Chief Executive Amy Dacey.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/08/02/democratic-national-committee-ceo-amy-dacey-resigns-in-wake-of-email-breach/|title=Top Democratic National Committee officials resign in wake of email breach|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|first1=Abby|last1=Phillip|first2=Katie|last2=Zezima|date=2 August 2016|access-date=4 August 2016|archive-date=August 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804021809/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/08/02/democratic-national-committee-ceo-amy-dacey-resigns-in-wake-of-email-breach/|url-status=live}}</ref> After she resigned, Wasserman Schultz put out a statement about possible FBI assistance in investigating the hacking and leaks, saying that "the DNC was never contacted by the FBI or any other agency concerned about these intrusions."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/06/21/dnc-no-help-homeland-security-hacks-239800|title=Jeh Johnson: DNC did not want DHS help following election hack|work=Politico|first1=Austin|last1=Wright|date=June 21, 2017|access-date=September 21, 2019|archive-date=September 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921045659/https://www.politico.com/story/2017/06/21/dnc-no-help-homeland-security-hacks-239800|url-status=live}}</ref> During a Senate hearing in January 2017, James Comey testified that the FBI requested access to the DNC's servers, but its request was denied. He also testified that old versions of the [[Republican National Committee]]'s servers were breached, but then-current databases were unaffected.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fbi-director-comey-agency-requested-access-to-dnc-servers/|title=FBI Director Comey: Agency requested access to DNC servers|work=CBS News|first1=Emily|last1=Schultheis|date=January 10, 2017|access-date=September 21, 2019|archive-date=September 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921045659/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fbi-director-comey-agency-requested-access-to-dnc-servers/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The DNC subsequently [[Democratic National Committee v. Russian Federation|filed a lawsuit]] in federal court against WikiLeaks and others alleging a conspiracy to influence the election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/democratic-party-files-lawsuit-alleging-russia-the-trump-campaign-and-wikileaks-conspired-to-disrupt-the-2016-campaign/2018/04/20/befe8364-4418-11e8-8569-26fda6b404c7_story.html|title=Democratic Party sues Russia, Trump campaign and WikiLeaks alleging 2016 campaign conspiracy|first1=Tom|last1=Hamburger|first2=Rosalind S.|last2=Helderman|first3=Ellen|last3=Nakashima|date=April 20, 2017|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=August 15, 2018|archive-date=June 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620231907/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/democratic-party-files-lawsuit-alleging-russia-the-trump-campaign-and-wikileaks-conspired-to-disrupt-the-2016-campaign/2018/04/20/befe8364-4418-11e8-8569-26fda6b404c7_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>