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The Democratic National Committee CEO Resigned

by Amée LaTour

The Democratic National Committee is still reeling from the leaked emails in which it appears that officials expressed desire and intent to disadvantage Sen. Bernie Sanders' campaign for the party's nomination. Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz caught the most heat, and stepped down from her post in the immediate aftermath of the leaks. But the fallout over the emails, for which the DNC apologized, continues a week after the convention. So, who is Amy Dacey? She was the CEO of the Democratic National Committee, and she resigned from her post on Tuesday.

According to ABC News, interim DNC Chair Donna Brazile released a statement Tuesday stating that a transition team will help Democrats prepare for the general election. The statement, which announced Dacey's resignation as well as two other top DNC staffers also read:

In order to make history, the Democratic Party depends on the tireless work of everyday drum majors for justice, fairness, and equality. Thanks in part to the hard work of Amy, Luis, and Brad, the Democratic Party has adopted the most progressive platform in history, has put itself in financial position to win in November, and has begun the important work of investing in state party partnerships. I'm so grateful for their commitment to this cause, and I wish them continued success in the next chapter of their career.

Dacey served as the DNC's chief executive officer since January 2014. Before that, she was the executive director of Emily's List, a lobbying group that works to get pro-choice female candidates elected to office, for more than three years. Emily's List endorsed Clinton in both her 2008 and 2016 presidential bids. Dacey's resume highlights several positions in which she has worked to get Democrats elected to various offices.

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It is not surprising that the Democratic National Committee would want to overhaul its leadership in the wake of the email leaks, which appear to show clear violations of the neutrality its officials are supposed to exhibit toward primary candidates. But Dacey's resignation is more than symbolic; she was reportedly implicated in the leaks.

In one of the most-reported email chains, CFO Brad Marshall suggested that someone should ask Sanders about his faith, presumably a reporter. Marshall said that Sanders might be an atheist, and that this could hurt his campaign among some voter demographics. Dacey responded: "AMEN." Marshall also resigned on Tuesday, along with Luis Miranda, communications director of the Democratic National Committee.

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Apparently, Dacey's resignation from the committee will not hurt her job prospects going forward — she's already lined up for a new gig with Democratic consulting firm Squared Communications, the Associated Press reported. The firm's CEO Michael Meehan praised Dacey's experience and said she'll continue helping Democrats get elected: "As one of the top campaign strategists in our party, and with our experiences together on presidential, Senate and congressional campaigns, Amy will help our firm's clients navigate this and future election cycles."

Dacey has operated pretty much in the shadows, away from the scrutiny of the public eye, until announcing her resignation. Whether the committee's replacement of its leaders will inspire a return of trust from voters, or whether the breach has led to a deeper loss of faith in the party, remains to be seen. For her part, Dacey will make use of another career to continue her efforts advancing Democratic candidates.