The National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) criticized broadcaster Diane Rehm for her “indefensible” questioning in a statement

“It is appalling that in today’s age, a longtime Jewish elected official would face implications that he splits his loyalty between the United States and Israel for no other reason that his religion,” said Greg Rosenbaum, chair of the NJDC’s board of directors.

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“This anti-Semitic canard of dual loyalty has persisted for decades, particularly about American Jews in public service,” he said.

“To directly ask, as Diane Rehm did, if there are members of Congress who hold dual citizenship with Israel is unbelievably offensive and completely indefensible,” Rosenbaum added of Sanders, a 2016 Democratic presidential candidate.

“There are no legitimate sources that claim that Sen. Sanders holds Israeli citizenship, and if Diane Rehm was citing one of the many dark, anti-Semitic corners of the Internet as her source, we have grave doubts as to her journalistic credentials.”