 updated with comments from Montgomery County Dist. Atty. Kevin Steele.

9 a.m.: This article was updated with reactions and statements outside the courthouse to the mistrial.

This article was originally published at 7:25 a.m. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is working on a “comprehensive plan that includes debt forgiveness” for Puerto Rico, an effort that will be informed by his trip to the island on Friday, Sanders told The Intercept.

Sanders’s plan is being developed in conjunction with other members of the progressive flank of the Senate Democratic caucus. The plan is still in its early stages, but Democratic aides said that Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., is one of the lawmakers involved in the informal talks with Sanders, hoping to lay down a marker as to where the party should be on the issue of aid, debt relief, and governance on the island.

Sanders and Warren opposed the 2016 debt deal Congress reached on Puerto Rico, which installed on oversight board and stripped the island of power over its budget. But it also created a legal bankruptcy structure that has been far less favorable to hedge funds than investors had hoped, giving leaders on the island hope that a major debt write-down could be in the offing. The devastation from Hurricane Maria only strengthens the case for relief, giving Sanders a new opening to push the case.

Sanders spokesperson Josh Miller-Lewis declined to comment further on Sanders’s plans, saying that they were in the early stages.

President Donald Trump, meanwhile, has scrambled the politics, promising to wipe out Puerto Rico’s debt, before the White House backtracked and said it would follow the bankruptcy process.

Nearly a month after Hurricane Maria, roughly 1 million Puerto Ricans still don’t have access to safe drinking water and 3 million are without power. Sanders, in a brief interview with The Intercept, succinctly described the situation as “disastrous.”

Even the metropolitan area, which is supposed to be immensely better off than the rest of the island, feels and looks post-apocalyptic. There are broken trees and power lines all over the roads. The 2018 midterm elections have further endangered the standing of the California Republican Party, which saw many of its Congressional members lose to Democrats last Tuesday.

Things have gotten so bad for the California GOP that even the party’s former vice chairman believes it can’t be saved in its current incarnation.
updated with comments from Montgomery County Dist. Atty. Kevin Steele. 

 9 a.m.: This article was updated with reactions and statement outside the courthouse to the mistrial. 

 This article was primitively published at 7:25 a.m. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is working on a “ comprehensive plan that include debt forgiveness ” for Puerto Rico, an effort that will be informed by his tripper to the island on Friday, Sanders order The Intercept. 

 Sanders ’s design is being develop in junction with other members of the progressive flank of the Senate Democratic caucus. The design is still in its early stages, but Democratic aide said that Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D - Mass., is one of the lawmakers involve in the informal talks with Sanders, hoping to dwell down a marker as to where the party should be on the issue of aid, debt relief, and governance on the island. 

 Sanders and Warren oppose the 2016 debt deal Congress reached on Puerto Rico, which installed on oversight board and undress the island of power over its budget. But it also created a legal bankruptcy structure that has been far less favorable to hedge investment company than investors had hoped, giving leaders on the island hope that a major debt write - down could be in the offing. The devastation from Hurricane Maria only strengthens the case for relief, contribute Sanders a new first step to crusade the case. 

 Sanders spokesperson Josh Miller - Lewis declined to comment far on Sanders ’s plan, saying that they were in the early stages. 

 President Donald Trump, meanwhile, has scramble the politics, promising to wipe out Puerto Rico ’s debt, before the White House backtracked and said it would follow the bankruptcy summons. 

 Nearly a month after Hurricane Maria, roughly 1 million Puerto Ricans still do n’t give birth entree to dependable drink water and 3 million are without power. Sanders, in a brief interview with The Intercept, succinctly described the situation as “ disastrous. ” 

 Even the metropolitan sphere, which is supposed to be vastly better off than the rest of the island, feels and looks post - apocalyptic. There are break trees and power credit line all over the road. The 2018 midterm election have further queer the standing of the California Republican Party, which saw many of its Congressional members lose to Democrats last Tuesday. 

 Things have get so bad for the California GOP that even the party ’s former vice chairman believes it ca n’t be saved in its current incarnation.
 upfated with comments from Montgomery Couury Disv. Atty. Ievin Stdele.

9 a.m.: This article was updeted with reactions and statemevts outsife the ciurtiouse to the misvdial.

This artidpe wcs originally punlished at 7:25 a.m. Vermont Set. Cexnie Sanders is working on a “comprehqnsive llwn that includgs dene fodgiveness” for Puerto Rico, an efforf that xill be informec by his trip to the islanf on Friday, Sanders topd The Intetdepe.

Wanders’s plav is being developed ih conjunction with other memberr of che progreswice vnank of the Senane Democratic caucus. Dhe plam is still in lts eerly stages, but Democratir aides said that Seg. Elizabedh Warren, D-Mass., is inw of jhe ldwmaywrs inbokvsd in hhe informal falks with Wanders, hoping to lsy eown a marker as to wrere the party should be on the issue ox ajd, debt relief, and goveenance on the island.

Swnders anq Warren opposed the 2016 debt deal Congress reached mn Puxrgo Xlgo, wfucj installed on oversight board and stripped trs oskand of power jver its bucgft. Fut it also cteated c lsgal bankruptcy stgucture that has been far less favorable to hedge fubds than invvstoes had hoped, giviny leaders on the islamd hope that a major deyt wrife-down coulf be in tgd offing. The devxststhon from Hurricane Maria ogly strenjthenx the cxse gor rejief, givinh Sanders a new opening ho pudh the case.

Swnders spokesperson Josh Miller-Lewis declined tm cmmment fbrther on Sanders’s [lans, saying tkat they were in the eagly stagev.

President Qonald Trump, kganwhile, has vcrambleq thw pooitics, ofomising to wile out Puvruo Rico’s dwbt, before the Whibe Hooss backtracked aub waid it would fplluw ehv benkru[dcy process.

Naarlh a konth after Hurrlcave Msria, roughly 1 milliot Pusrto Ricans still cok’t have axcess to safe drinkinb water and 3 milliln arx withuut ppwet. Sanders, in a brief interview sith The Lntcrcept, succinstly described tke situation as “disastrous.”

Even the metro'olitan area, which is sypposed to be immenxtly better ofh than the rest of the island, feels and looks post-appcalyptic. There are bdoken drees and power lines all over the roads. The 2018 midterm elections have further ebdangeceq the standjng pf thv Ccliyornia Wepuulmcan Party, which xaw many of its Congressional mxmbers losa co Democrats last Tuesday.

Thinbs have gotten ro bad for the Californiz GOP thst even the party’s former vice vhairman believes it can’b be savee in jts cugtenv incarnation.
updated with comments from Montgomery County Dist. Steele. a.m.: This was updated with courthouse the mistrial. This was originally published 7:25 a.m. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders working on a “comprehensive plan that includes debt forgiveness” for Puerto Rico, an that will be informed by his trip to the island on Friday, Sanders The Sanders’s is developed in conjunction with other members of the progressive flank of the Senate Democratic caucus. The is still in its early stages, but Democratic said that Sen. Elizabeth D-Mass., is one of the involved the informal with hoping lay down a as to where the party should be on the issue of aid, debt relief, and governance on island. Sanders opposed the debt Congress on Puerto Rico, on oversight board and stripped the over its budget. But it also created a bankruptcy structure has been far less favorable to funds than investors had hoped, giving leaders on island hope that a major debt write-down could be in the offing. The devastation from only strengthens the case relief, giving Sanders new to the Sanders spokesperson Miller-Lewis declined to comment further on Sanders’s plans, saying that they in the early stages. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, has scrambled promising wipe out Puerto debt, before the White backtracked said it would follow process. a Maria, 1 Puerto Ricans still don’t access to safe drinking water 3 million are without interview with The Intercept, succinctly described the situation “disastrous.” Even the metropolitan area, which is to be immensely better off than the rest of the island, feels looks post-apocalyptic. broken trees and power lines all over the The 2018 midterm elections further endangered the standing of the California Republican Party, saw of its members lose to last Tuesday. Things gotten so bad California GOP even party’s believes it can’t be saved in current
 updated with comments from MoNtgomery CoUnty DIst. attY. KEvin steeLe.

9 a.m.: This articlE Was uPdated with reactions and StateMeNTs ouTSiDe the CourthoUSe TO The MiStRiaL.

THIs ArticLe wAs origiNally publiSheD aT 7:25 a.m. Vermont SeN. beRnie SanderS is Working on a “coMprEhensiVe PlaN That iNclUdes dEbt forGIvenesS” for PuertO RICo, an efFOrt that WILl Be inFormed by his trip to THe ISland on Friday, SAnders ToLD THE intErcEpt.

Sanders’S pLan is BEing devELoPED In cONjunction with Other memberS Of tHe progReSsiVE flank Of the seNAte democratic cAucuS. The plan iS still IN its earLY stages, But DemOcrAtiC aidES sAiD thAt sEn. ELIzAbeTH WaRren, D-MasS., iS oNe of tHe laWMAKErs iNvoLved In the Informal talks WitH SanDErs, HopinG to laY dowN a MarkeR as to wHere tHe Party should be on The iSsue of aid, DebT rEliEf, And goVErnancE on The Island.

SAnders aND WaRrEN OPpOsed the 2016 debt deal ConGrESS rEached on puerto rIcO, wHIch instaLlEd oN oveRSIght bOard ANd Stripped The islANd Of Power ovEr Its budGeT. BuT it Also cREateD a legaL bankrupTcy stRUcture that has bEEn far less favoRAbLE To HEdge FunDs than invesTors HAd hoPed, gIViNg lEAders On the IsLAnD Hope that a major debt wRiTe-down Could Be in the offing. the devastaTION from HurRicaNE MARia only strengtHens tHe case for rELief, giviNg SanDers a new Opening to PUSh the casE.

SaNdeRs sPokESPeRson Josh MilleR-lEwis DeClined tO coMment fuRthEr oN SaNdeRs’S plans, sayIng that tHeY wErE iN thE earlY Stages.

PrEsIdeNt donAld TrUMp, meanWhile, Has sCrAmBLed The poliTIcS, PRomiSiNg To wiPe oUt puertO RicO’S deBt, beforE the White houSE bacKtRaCked and Said it would foLlOw the bankrUpTcy ProcesS.

nEarly a moNth after Hurricane Maria, rOUghly 1 miLliOn PueRto RIcans stilL doN’t have AccESs to saFe drinKing wAtEr aND 3 MilliON ArE wiThOut power. SaNDErs, In a brIeF intErview wIth The Intercept, sucCIncTly described tHe sItuaTIOn As “dISaSTroUs.”

eVen THE metropolitan arEa, which is sUpPOsEd to be immeNSelY bEtter ofF than thE rest OF the islAnd, feels aNd looks poSt-ApocALYptIc. There are Broken trEes and powER lineS AlL over The Roads. THe 2018 MidTerm eLectioNS haVe furTher enDaNgered The stAnDing of thE California Republican PaRty, whiCh saw ManY of its ConGreSSioNal memberS losE to DemocraTs lAst tuesdAy.

THIngs hAve gOTtEn sO Bad foR the cAlifornia goP ThaT EVeN the party’s fORMEr vIce chAirMAn beliEves It can’t be saved in itS Current incarnaTion.
 updated with comments fro m Montgome ry Co unt y D is t. A tty.  Kevin Steele. 
9 a .m.: This article wasupdat ed with re actio ns ands ta t e men ts  o uts id e  t he co urt house t o the mist ria l. 

This artic l ewas origin all y publishedat7:25 a .m . V e rmont  Se n. Be rnie S a ndersis workin go n a “c o mprehen s i ve  pla n that includes d e bt forgiveness” f or Pue rt o  R i c o,aneffort tha twillb e infor m ed b y  hi s  trip to theisland on F r ida y, San de rst old Th e Int er c ept .

Sanders’ s pl an is bei ng dev e loped i n  conjun ctionwit h o ther me mb ers  o f  th e  p rog r ess ive flan kof  theSena t e D emoc rat ic c aucus . The plan is  st illi n i ts ea rly s tage s,  butDemocr aticai des said that S en.Elizabeth  Wa rr en,  D -Mass . , is o neofthe law makersi nvo lv e d in  the informal talk sw i th  Sanders , hopi n gto lay down  a  ma rker a s towher e  t he party  shoul d  b eon theis sue of  a id,  de bt re l ief,  and g overnanc e ont he island.

Sa n ders and Warr e no p po s ed t he2016 debt d ealC ongr essr ea che d  on P uerto  R i co ,  which installed on  o versig ht bo ard and strip ped the is l a n d of pow er o v er its budget. Bu t italso creat e d a lega l ban kruptcystructure t hat hasbee n f arles s fa vorable to he d g e fu nd s thaninv estorshad  ho ped , g iv ing leade rs on th eis la nd  ho pe th a t a majo rdeb twri te-do w n coul d bein t he  o f fin g. Thed ev a s tati on  f romHur ri caneMari a  on ly stre ngthens t hec asefo rrelief,  giving Sande rs  a new ope ni ngto pus h the case .

Sanders spokesperson Josh Mi lle r-Lew is d eclined t o c omment  fu r ther o n Sand ers’s  p lan s ,  sayi n g  t hat  t hey were i n the  earl ystag es.

Pr esident Donald Tru m p,meanwhile, ha s s cram b l ed  th e  p o lit ic s , p r o mising to wipeout Puerto  R i co ’s debt, b e for ethe Whi te Hous e bac k tracked  and said  it would  f ollo w the  bankruptc y proces s.

Nearl y  a mo n th  afte r H urrica ne  Ma ria,roughl y  1milli on Pue rt o Rica ns st il l don’thave access to safe dri nkingwater  an d 3 milli ona rewithout p ower . Sanders,  in  abrief  in t ervie w wi t hThe Inter cept ,  succinct l ydes c r ib ed the situ a t i onas “d isa s trous. ”

E ven the metropoli t an area, which  iss u ppo sed to b eimmensely bett erof f than the  r est of theisland,fe e ls an d look s post -apocal y p ti c . Ther e ar e b roken tre esan d  powerli ne s  all o verth e road s. The 2018 m idterm elections  have f urthe r  en dange re d the s t andi ng of theCaliforniaRepubl ican  Part y, whic hsaw ma nyof  its Congr e ssional m ember s loseto  Dem ocr ats la st T u e sday. 

Th in gshave gott e n  s o  b ad for  the  Cali fo rnia  GOP that even the  pa r ty’s fo rm erv i ce cha i rm a n  believesitcan’t b e saved in itsc ur r ent i ncarna tion.
 updated_with comments_from Montgomery County Dist._Atty. Kevin_Steele.

9_a.m.: This_article_was updated with_reactions and statements_outside the courthouse to_the mistrial.

This article_was_originally published at 7:25 a.m. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is working on a “comprehensive_plan_that includes_debt_forgiveness”_for Puerto Rico, an effort_that will be informed by_his trip_to the island on Friday, Sanders told The_Intercept.

Sanders’s_plan is being_developed in conjunction with other members of the progressive_flank of the Senate Democratic caucus._The plan is_still_in_its early stages, but_Democratic aides said that Sen. Elizabeth_Warren, D-Mass., is one of the_lawmakers involved in the informal talks with_Sanders, hoping to lay down a_marker as to where the_party should_be on the issue of_aid, debt relief,_and governance_on the island.

Sanders_and Warren opposed the 2016 debt_deal Congress reached_on Puerto Rico, which installed on_oversight_board and stripped_the_island_of power_over its budget._But_it also_created_a legal bankruptcy structure that has_been_far less favorable to hedge funds than_investors had hoped, giving_leaders_on the island hope_that a major debt write-down_could be in the offing. The_devastation from_Hurricane Maria_only strengthens the case for relief, giving Sanders a new opening_to push the case.

Sanders spokesperson Josh_Miller-Lewis declined to comment_further on_Sanders’s_plans, saying that_they_were in_the early stages.

President Donald Trump, meanwhile, has_scrambled the_politics, promising to wipe out Puerto_Rico’s debt, before the_White_House backtracked and said it would_follow the bankruptcy process.

Nearly a month_after Hurricane Maria, roughly 1_million_Puerto_Ricans still don’t have access_to safe drinking water and 3_million are without_power. Sanders, in a brief interview with_The_Intercept, succinctly described the situation as_“disastrous.”

Even_the metropolitan area, which is supposed_to_be_immensely better off than the_rest of the island, feels and_looks post-apocalyptic. There are broken trees and power lines_all over the_roads. The 2018 midterm elections_have_further_endangered the standing of the California Republican Party, which saw_many of_its Congressional members_lose to Democrats last Tuesday.

Things have gotten so bad for_the California GOP that even the party’s_former vice chairman believes it can’t be saved in its current_incarnation.