Bernie Sanders' spokeswoman claims Michael Bloomberg has had heart attacks in the past and compared questions about Sanders' health to birtherism
- Sen. Bernie Sanders' campaign press secretary, Briahna Joy Gray, said on Thursday that former Mayor Michael Bloomberg has "suffered heart attacks in the past," though there's no evidence to support her claims.
- Gray made the claim while defending Sanders' decision not to release additional information about his health about four months after his heart attack.
- Gray also compared questions about Sanders' health to the racist birtherism conspiracy concerning former President Barack Obama's birthplace.
Sanders' refusal to release more medical information and Gray's false claim about Bloomberg were widely condemned by political commentators and reporters on Tuesday.
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Sen. Bernie Sanders suffered a heart attack last October, but when asked on Monday night whether he'd release any additional medical records, the presidential candidate said he likely wouldn't.
When a CNN host pressed Sanders' campaign press secretary, Briahna Joy Gray, on the issue during a Tuesday morning interview, Gray called the question "reminiscent" of "smear and skepticism campaigns" like the racist birtherism conspiracy concerning former President Barack Obama's birthplace.
Gray added that the media isn't asking the same questions of other candidates, including 78-year-old former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who she claimed has "suffered heart attacks in the past."
"It's really telling that none of the same concern is being demonstrated for Michael Bloomberg, who's the same age as Bernie Sanders, who's suffered heart attacks in the past," Gray said.
In December, Sanders released letters from his primary physician and two cardiologists declaring the Vermont lawmaker to be in good health.
Bloomberg's campaign manager Kevin Sheekey called Gray's claim "a lie" and said that Bloomberg hasn't had a heart attack. She also labeled Sanders "the Trump of the left."
"I honestly can't tell the difference in their campaigns," Sheekey said.
Bloomberg's campaign released a letter from his doctor in December describing his health as "outstanding." The letter noted that the mayor had two coronary stents inserted in 2000, has had small skin cancers removed from his body, and takes a blood thinning medication to control his atrial fibrillation and a drug to control his cholesterol.
"Mr. Bloomberg is a 77-year-old man in outstanding health. There are no medical concerns, present or looming, that would prevent him from serving as President of the United States," Dr. Stephen Sission of John Hopkins University said in the letter.
Sanders' refusal to release more medical information and Gray's false claim about Bloomberg were widely condemned by political commentators and reporters on Tuesday.
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