Bernie and Jane Sanders, under FBI investigation for bank fraud, hire lawyers

CBS News ^ | June 23, 2017 | John Bat

[Trump20162020]

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and his wife, Jane Sanders have hired prominent defense attorneys, amid an FBI investigation into a loan Jane Sanders obtained to expand Burlington College while she was its president, CBS News confirms.

Politico Magazine first reported the Sanders had hired lawyers to defend them in the probe. Sanders top adviser Jeff Weaver told CBS News the couple has sought legal protection over federal agents' allegations from a January 2016 complaint accusing then-President of Burlington College, Ms. Sanders, of distorting donor levels in a 2010 loan application for $10 million from People's United Bank to purchase 33 acres of land for the institution.

According to Politico, prosecutors might also be looking into allegations that Sen. Sanders' office inappropriately urged the bank to approve the loan.

[dp0622]

It’s our inalienable right as FR members to not even look at the THREAD title before commenting!!!

It’s in the constitution.

[tired&retired]

“Looks like someone is about to get berned.......”

Hillary must really be pissed at him... This is the witch’s spell.

[texteacher]

Speaking of the defense ...

” And high-profile Washington defense attorney Larry Robbins, who counseled Libby “Scooter” Robbins, former Chief of Staff for the Vice President, is protecting Jane Sander”

[Does so]

A Republican in Vermont?

Not since WWII.

[Malcolm Reynolds]

Must’ve asked the Clintons a thing or two out there on the trail about how to avoid prosecution with shady land deals.

[Ann Archy]

And please show us where the money came from to buy their THIRD HOUSE......right AFTER the election!!

[Vaquero]

S'all good man.

[Vaquero]

Enjoy the frog march

[b4its2late]

I wonder how much she skimmed off the top?

[ROCKLOBSTER]

He’s a wild-eyed communist. “Lying/thieving hypocrite” IS his job description.

[bgill]

Hahahahahahahaha!

[usconservative]

There's also a picture floating around of Bernie Sanders driving an Audi A8.

That's not just "any car" or a low-entry Audi. That's Audi's flagship luxury model that sells well over $100k.

Now, exactly where did Bernie Sanders get the money to buy an A8?

HIS DONOR'S.

SUCKERS!!!!!!!!!!

[CottonBall]

It would be except for the part where Bernie used his political clout to encourage the loan go through. And putting down fraudulent information on the loan application probably violates some law.

[StAnDeliver]

"And high-profile Washington defense attorney Larry Robbins, who counseled Libby "Scooter" Robbins, former Chief of Staff for the Vice President, is protecting Jane Sanders."

Sooo, no editors at CBSNews...

[CottonBall]

LOL

[CottonBall]

“In reality it’s kind of funny though because they could probably convict 90% of homebuyers for inflating stuff on their home loan applications, but they usually don’t pay attractive until the losses get into the millions or there’s some sort outright fraud.”

Really? That would be really sad. When we used to get loans, it was ridiculous how much the bank said we were eligible to borrow. And we were completely factual on our application. I would never in a million years borrow the amount they said we could, because then we couldn’t afford any utility bills or furniture for the house! Much less food and clothing.

Of course I haven’t gotten the loan in over 15 years. Hopefully things have changed. I’m sure letting people borrow too much just leads the way to bankruptcies.

[ScottinVA]

What??? An investigation of St. Bernie?

[StAnDeliver]

"Every time I see the two of them I still can’t help but thing she looks like she should be his daughter. Well maybe she will find out that “Free College” isn’t really practical, especially when you cheat in order to get free money."

When you think about it, this is exactly why Bernbot wanted free college - because of the socialist-style grift they could make off of it. In their warped mind, no one has to pay for schmengering loan money.

[NOVACPA]

Exactly.

Just think of what might happen if some potential borrower was rebuffed and complained to “his Senator’s office” about potential “discrimination” issues with extensions of credit.

State and federal bank examiners could show up any day and perform lengthy examination...

[trisham]

Adviser and aide to Bernie Sanders Bernie Sanders has described his wife as "one of [his] key advisers",[2] and he has employed her at various times as "an administrative assistant, spokeswoman, policy adviser, chief of staff, and media buyer".[2] In a 1996 article in The Washington Post, she was credited with helping him draft "more than 50 pieces of legislation".[11]

She has served in Sanders's Congressional office as Chief of Staff and as Policy and Press Adviser,[10] and also serves as an Alternate Commissioner for the Texas Low Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact Commission.[12][13]

Burlington College presidency

In 2004, Sanders was named President of Burlington College, a private, non-profit liberal arts school founded in 1972 in Vermont.[1][2] She significantly increased the small college's fundraising.[14] During her tenure as President, Burlington had an endowment of "about $150,000",[2] and fundraising revenue had increased from about $25,000 when Sanders first arrived to $1.25 million by 2011.[14] In 2010, Sanders oversaw the purchase of property formerly owned and occupied by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington. The College based the real estate purchase on projections that enrollment would rapidly grow from fewer than 200 to as many as 750 students, with a corresponding income increase from tuition fees.[15]

In 2011, the college trustees, while crediting Sanders with acquiring a permanent campus for the 200‑student college, called a meeting for September 2011 and accepted Sanders's resignation. "We reached a decision which I believe is best for both the College and me," Sanders said after the meeting, "The board and I have different visions for the future and that’s perfectly fine."[2][14][16][17] Sanders's salary as President was $160,000, with a contract for the position through 2013; on departure, she received the title of President Emeritus and a $200,000 severance. With the College unable to collect on some promised pledges after Sanders had resigned, and the enrollment increase plans failing, the Diocese settled the loan debt with the College in 2015 for $996,000, less than the agreed amount, and with $1 million of the repayment made in shares of an unidentified LLC company.[18]

In 2016, Burlington College announced it was closing its doors effective May 27, 2016 due to "longstanding financial woes".[7][19] After leaving the Burlington College Presidency, Sanders became a member of the Vermont Economic Development Authority.[20]

In May 2017, it was reported that the FBI was investigating Jane Sanders for possible bank fraud related to her Presidency at Burlington. She is alleged to have knowingly falsified information on a bank loan application, in order to obtain funds to buy property for a planned expansion of Burlington College. Sanders is specifically accused of falsely stating that a donor had planned to give US $1 million to the college over several years when the donor in fact had merely promised to leave an unspecified sum to the college after her death.

Wikipedia