AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – A Bernie Sanders delegate from North Texas sparked a shouting match Tuesday among his state’s delegation to the Democratic National Convention by condemning Hillary Clinton, but later said he misspoke in “a moment of passion.”
During the delegation’s breakfast in Philadelphia, Russell Lytle took the stage with fellow backers of the Vermont senator. He expressed concern about the direction of the party before telling the crowd, “We are currently condemning our currently presumptive nominee.”
That caused an uproar, with shouting among backers of both Sanders and Clinton. Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa briefly suspended the proceedings.
Tensions between the two factions have made the Democratic convention rowdy at times. On Monday, Sanders delegates booed some of the speakers from the convention floor.
After the breakfast, Lytle of Denton, Texas, released a statement he signed by hand. “In a moment of passion, while reaching out to my fellow members of the Texas delegation,” it read, “I spoke one sentence that did not reflect my intention of promoting productive dialogue.”