Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersSanders: Netanyahu has cultivated 'racist nationalism' Former OMB pick Neera Tanden to serve as senior adviser to Biden Tensions mount among Democrats over US-Israel policy MORE (I-Vt.) on Tuesday broke his silence on an FBI inquiry into his wife Jane Sanders, calling the probe a "pathetic" and politically motivated attack.

"My wife is about the most honest person I know," Sanders said on CNN's "OutFront" Tuesday. "All that I will tell you now is it's a sad state of affairs in America when not only we have politicians being destroyed ... but when you go after people's wives. That's pretty pathetic."

Sanders also suggested in the video that the inquiry was politically motivated, but wouldn't comment further.

"That's all I'm going to say. I think it's fairly pathetic that when people are involved in public life not only do they get attacked, but their wives and their families get attacked," Sanders added.


The FBI is reportedly looking into whether Jane Sanders falsified loan documents while she served as the president of Burlington College. The small Vermont liberal arts school closed down in May 2016 after going bankrupt and failing to meet accreditation standards. 

A family spokesperson confirmed to the AP on Monday that Sanders has hired a lawyer to protect her interests.

Bernie Sanders had dodged questions on the subject Monday.