The American Legion has asked the campaign of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders to "cease and desist" from using the organization's emblem in campaign fliers. The American Legion even wrote to Sanders' Senate office that it did not have permission to use the emblem in his campaign fliers.
According to ABC3340, the American Legion has asked the campaign of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders drop the American Legion emblem from his campaign fliers. In fact, it also wrote to Sanders' Senate office that it did not permit Sanders to use the emblem in his campaign fliers.
Sanders' campaign didn't immediately return a request seeking comment. The American Legion has twice complained to Sanders officials since January 22 about the use of the emblem in campaign materials.
A February 1 letter from the American Legion obtained by The Associated Press also warned that "any further communication about it will be through our trademark attorney in the appropriate forum." An earlier report by the Valley News claimed that Sanders had used the images of pastors and veterans in his fliers.
Last month, the League of Conservation Voters or LCV), which has endorsed former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for president, scolded the Sanders campaign for using its logos on campaign mailers in Iowa without permission.
"Only Clinton has permission to use LCV's logo," LCV Senior Vice President for Communications David Willett told Sinclair Broadcast Group on January 29. He also added,"It was inappropriate and potentially misleading for the Sanders campaign to use it in mail."
Moreover, AARP Iowa also called out the Vermont Senator just before the Iowa caucuses for including its logo in campaign mail without authorization. The AARP does not make political endorsements.
But it issued a statement on the matter via KUTV that wrote, "In response to the Sanders campaign mailing featuring AARP and the Association's Take A Stand campaign, AARP does not endorse candidates, have a political action committee (PAC), or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates." Additionally, it stated, "While we have encouraged the presidential candidates to lay out their plans to update Social Security, AARP did not authorize the Sanders campaign to mention AARP or use the AARP logo, and we did not participate in its production."
Meanwhile, it reached out to Sanders campaign officials for comments on its usage of the LCV and AARP logos, but it has not received a response yet. But then, Sanders campaign's seem to use the squeaky-clean image this week as its staffers were caught falsely associating themselves with the Culinary Union in Las Vegas.
