Bernie Sanders defends his wife, says attacks that stem from Trump supporter are "pathetic"

Sanders defended his wife Jane Sanders, who is reportedly under federal investigation

Published June 29, 2017 6:00AM (EDT)

Jane O'Meara Sanders joins her husband, Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., at a campaign rally, Monday, May 9, 2016, in Atlantic City, N.J. (AP Photo/Mel Evans) (AP)
Jane O'Meara Sanders joins her husband, Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., at a campaign rally, Monday, May 9, 2016, in Atlantic City, N.J. (AP Photo/Mel Evans) (AP)

Sen Bernie Sander, I-Vt., defended his wife, Jane Sanders, who is reportedly under federal investigation for bank fraud allegations over a $10 million loan application stemming from her time with the now-defunct Burlington College. Sanders said that attacks against his wife were "pathetic," according to CBS News.

"My wife is about the most honest person I know," Sanders told CNN's Erin Burnett, according to CBS. "When she came to that college, it was failing financially and academically. When she left it, it was in better shape than it had ever been."

After she was president for seven years, Sanders left the college in 2011. Sanders did not indicate whether or not an investigation was in fact taking place, however he refuted the allegations "that his wife manipulated application information in an effort to secure the loan," CBS reported.

"When you go after people's wives that is really pathetic," Sanders said. "And that's where we are right now. That's about all I am going to say," he added.

Jeff Weaver, a political aide of Sanders, confirmed that both the Senator and his wife had hired lawyers Rich Cassidy and Larry Robbins. The allegations against Jane Sanders originated from Vermont Republican Party Vice Chair Brady Toensing, who was also President Donald Trump's campaign chair in the state, CBS reported.

"Five years later just at the moment, coincidentally, no doubt, when I am a candidate for president of the United States, Donald Trump's campaign manager, co-Vice Chairman of the Republican Party in Vermont, launched this investigation," Sanders said. "It is a sad state of affairs in America, not only when we have politicians being destroyed, but when there are attacks against elected officials."

The request for an investigation was filed by Toensing in January 2016, which he said "appears to have started right away," according to CBS. "As indicated by his Senate financial reports, he profited from the $200,000 payout she extracted from Burlington College when she was forced out," Toensing said.


By Charlie May

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Bernie Sanders Brady Toensing Jane Sanders President Donald Trump