A former presidential contender is now under investigation by the FBI? Oh, never mind. It’s Bernie Sanders. The networks have yawned at the news that Sanders and his wife Jane are being targeted by the FBI for possibly inappropriately urging a bank to approve a loan of Mrs. Sanders, then the President of a Vermont college.
Fox and Friends host Abby Huntsman on Sunday reported the story, explaining, “Bernie Sanders and his wife scrambling to lawyer up. Jane Sanders now facing an FBI probe for allegedly lying on a loan application to expand the campus of Burlington College in Vermont seven years ago. That whole ordeal led her to step down as president and the college went bankrupt last year.”
This news went unreported on ABC, CBS and NBC, despite the fact that Meet the Press anchor Chuck Todd had a seven minute interview with Sanders on Sunday. The topic never came up. The networks again on Monday skipped it.
CBS managed to cover the story online, Friday. But not on the actual network. CBSNews.com reporter John Bat noted:
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.
Prior to James Comey’s testimony before Congress in early June, CNN devoted ten hours to speculation. Excited CBS journalists pre-described the hearings as “historic” six times.
