Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), joined by his wife Jane Sanders (L), talks to media outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 27, 2016, after meeting with President Barack Obama. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Bernie Sanders Responds to Reports of Probe Into Bank Loan

Sen. Bernie Sanders responded to reports that he and his wife are under investigation for bank fraud. The FBI are investigating whether his wife, Jane, committed fraud to get a loan for a college in 2010. Both have hired lawyers.

“This was a story that just, amazingly enough, came out in the middle of my presidential campaign, initiated by Donald Trump’s campaign manager in Vermont,” Sen. Sanders, an independent from Vermont, told the Washington Post. “That’s about it. I don’t think it’ll be a distraction.”

Brady Toensing of Burlington, who is the man responsible for the legal claims filed to the U.S. attorney in Vermont, had been a Trump campaign chairman in the state.

“I filed a request for an investigation in January 2016 and an investigation appears to have been started right away,” he told CBS News. “It was started under President Obama, his Attorney General, and his U.S. Attorney, all of whom are Democrats.”

“My only hope is for a fair, impartial, and thorough investigation,” Toensing added.

Politico Magazine first reported that the Sanders had hired lawyers to defend them in the probe.

They retained well-connected attorney Rich Cassidy, and also Larry Robbins, a Washington D.C.-based defense attorney.

During the 2016 Democratic primary, a report emerged saying the FBI was investigating the possibility Jane Sanders falsely initiated Burlington College’s projected donor contributions. After getting a $10 million loan, the college was forced to close its doors in May 2016 due to a massive debt load.