Former Democrat chairwoman Donna Brazile accuses Clinton campaign of 'unethically' hijacking party

The former chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee has claimed that an unethical agreement was signed by the party and  Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign, helping her to win the nomination over Bernie Sanders.

Donna Brazile disclosed the agreement in a new book called "Hacks: The Inside Story of the Break-ins and Breakdowns that Put Donald Trump in the White House".

Brazile said she investigated after hacked committee emails were published indicating the nomination process had been rigged.

She wrote: "By September 7, 2016, the day I called Bernie, I had found my proof and it broke my heart."

She described finding a document which was an agreement between the DNC and Mrs Clinton's campaign made in August 2015.

It said the Clinton campaign would "control the party's finances, strategy, and all the money raised".

The party had been in debt since the 2012 presidential campaign.

Brazile wrote: "The campaign had the DNC on life support, giving it money every month to meet its basic expenses. The funding arrangement was not illegal but it sure looked unethical.

"If the fight had been fair one campaign would not have control of the party before the voters had decided which one they wanted to lead. This was not a criminal act, but as I saw it, it compromised the party’s integrity."

Donald Trump, whose campaign is being investigated for possible collusion with Russia over the US election, was quick to highlight the "real collusion".

"Donna Brazile just stated the DNC RIGGED the system to illegally steal the Primary from Bernie Sanders," he tweeted.

"Bought and paid for by Crooked H........This is real collusion and dishonesty. Major violation of Campaign Finance Laws and Money Laundering - where is our Justice Department?"