While all the focus is on Donald Trump Jr. and his meeting with a Russian government lawyer, it is being reported that the FBI investigation into Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-VT) wife, Jane Sanders, is gaining steam.
The Washington Post reports that they have a copy of a subpoena ordering that Burlington College, which Jane Sanders used to head, provide documents relevant to the investigation. This, per the Post, “is the first public confirmation that prosecutors have collected evidence to present to a grand jury.”
And that evidence is starting to amass, as over 12 boxes of documents from the college have been obtained by prosecutors and a state official has been called to provide witness testimony.
Here’s more:
Half a dozen people said in interviews in recent days that they had been contacted by the FBI or federal prosecutors, and former college trustees told The Washington Post that attorneys for Jane Sanders had interviewed them to learn what potential witnesses might tell the government.
To recap, the investigation into Jane Sanders stems from allegations that she provided false documentation to obtain a loan from People’s United Bank to purchase a piece of land for the college. Sanders allegedly inflated the college’s pledged commitments to get that loan, and the land deal that followed ultimately caused the college to shut down from a mountain of debt.
Bernie Sanders has also been probed in the investigation under allegations that he pressured the bank into giving the loan, although this allegation doesn’t appear to be as strong as the allegations against his wife and does not appear to be what the investigation is honing in on.
Both Sanders have lawyered up.
Jeff Weaver, the spokesman for the Sanders, denied the allegations against Jane Sanders, telling the Post that it’s only the result of GOP political tactics that are “right out of the Benghazi playbook.”
“It is particularly nasty even for them — going after a political opponent’s spouse,” said Weaver.
Read more about the FBI investigation into Jane Sanders here.