Bloomberg Campaign Reports More Vandalism, Lays Out Evidence Sanders Supporters Behind It

Michael Bloomberg’s campaign is pointing the finger at Bernie Sanders’ supporters, and the candidate himself, after several of its offices were vandalized over the last couple of weeks. The string of illegal actions, Bloomberg’s campaign suggests in a new press release, are ultimately the result of Democratic frontrunner Bernie Sanders’ and his campaign’s rhetoric and his refusal to denounce the “acts of hate.”

The latest in the string of vandalism targeting Bloomberg’s campaign, which first began to be reported about two weeks ago, was discovered Monday morning at the campaign’s Chicago office, which the campaign says was hit overnight with graffiti that included the red spray-painted words “sexist,” “racist,” and, most notably, “oligarch.”

That final word has appeared in previous acts of vandalism targeting Bloomberg’s other offices. As reported by NBC News, the vandalism in Chicago follows a pattern of Bloomberg’s offices — at least seven, including offices in Utah, Tennessee, Michigan and Ohio — being tagged with anti-capitalist messages denouncing the “oligarch” and “corporate pig” and declaring “eat the rich.” Other messages have included condemnations of Bloomberg’s past support of a stop-and-frisk policy.

In a press release Monday, the Bloomberg campaign made the case that Sanders and his surrogates are ultimately to blame for the string of vandalism and presented what they suggested is evidence of this culpability.

“Yet again, one of our campaign offices has been vandalized with derogatory language — using the word ‘oligarch’ — in an act of hate,” Bloomberg Campaign Manager Kevin Sheekey said in a statement included in the release. “We cannot, and will not, tolerate these acts. While we do not know who is directly responsible, we do know Senator Bernie Sanders and his campaign have repeatedly invoked this language, and the word ‘oligarch’ specifically when discussing Mike Bloomberg and his campaign.”

“Sen. Sanders’ refusal to denounce these illegal acts is a sign of his inability to lead, and his willingness to condone and promote Trump-like rhetoric has no place in our politics,” he continued. “Fortunately, no one has been injured. But this needs to end before someone gets hurt. No one should have to live in fear of coming to work, and Sen. Sanders must call on his supporters — including his campaign staff — to elevate the discourse in this campaign and end their spread of hateful rhetoric.”

The press release then provides a list of the seven offices hit with vandalism over the last two weeks “that mirrors attacks that Sen. Sanders’ supporters and staff has used online and in interviews”:

• In Salt Lake City, Utah, windows were smashed on 2/22
• In Knoxville, Tennessee, the office was vandalized with the word “oligarch” on 2/21
• Our Flint, MI office was defaced with a sign saying “Eat the Rich” on 2/16
• In Toledo, Ohio, the office was vandalized with the word “oligarch” on 2/13
• Our Youngstown, Ohio, office was vandalized and defaced with the word “oligarch” on 2/14
• Our Ann Arbor, MI office was vandalized with writing on the windows saying “Corporate Pig” on 2/13

As evidence that the rhetoric used by Sanders’ campaign and his surrogates are fueling the attacks, the Bloomberg campaign provided a list of some of the used of the term “oligarch” by Sanders’ camp:

• Sen. Sanders at a recent rally: “We are a democracy, not an oligarchy. You’re not going to buy this election.” [CNN]
• Sen. Sanders during the Nevada debate: “Real change never takes place from the top on down, never takes place from an oligarchy controlled by billionaires.” [NBC News]
• Sanders campaign national press secretary Briahna Joy Gray: “Like I said: Bloomberg is an oligarch.” [@BrieBrieJoy, 2/19/20 // “Bloomberg is an oligarch. #whichsideareyouon?” [@BrieBrieJoy, 2/9/19]
• Sanders campaign Senior Advisor David Sirota: “If you are somehow offended by the word “oligarch,” you must not be paying attention. There’s no pretense at all here — the billionaire is just brazenly trying to buy the Democratic primary.” [@DavidSirota, 2/4/20]