The FBI is investigating Jane Sanders—the wife of progressive superstar Bernie Sanders—for potentially falsifying loan documents while serving as president of Burlington College. Jane Sanders was president of the private, non-profit college from 2004 to 2011. However, the university was shut down in 2016 after facing accreditation issues and high debt burdens.
Under Sanders’ tenure, Burlington College fell deep into debt. Much of this debt was accrued in 2010, when the college purchased a permanent campus using a $10,000,000 dollar loan to facilitate the acquisition. During the loan process, Sanders claimed that she would be able to raise $2.6 million dollars via donations in order to help pay for the debt. Ultimately, she raised less than $700,000 dollars in donations, leaving the college and its lenders on the hook.
Now, Sanders is facing allegations that she intentionally provided falsified information during the loan process. The government has begun to look into the claims and is in the process of contacting supposed donors. Apparently, the numbers that Sanders quoted were far different from the numbers pledged by donors. If true, Sanders may have intentionally supplied falsified data in order to secure the loan.
For example, on the loan documents, Sanders claimed that Corinne Bove Maietta had pledged a million dollars towards the university over the course of five years. Maietta, however, claims that she only agreed to leave an unspecified amount upon her death. The FBI is now looking to interview Maietta.
In May of 2016, Burlington College was forced to shut down due to its high debt burdens. The college had been in operation since 1972 and was also facing accreditation issues. Sanders had already been forced to resign, but the debts she accrued remained on the college’s books. The university enrolled only about 200 students and lacked a permanent campus until Sanders pushed for the loan to purchase a campus.
The FBI has not yet contacted Mrs. Sanders. Upon resignation, Sanders was given a $200,000 dollar severance package. It is unclear if part or all of this severance was paid. Meanwhile, students were forced to transfer to other universities to complete their education.
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8 May: This Day in Military History
1846: In the first major battle of the Mexican War, U.S. Army forces under the command of Gen. (and future president) Zachary Taylor decisively defeat Mexican forces under Gen. Mariano Arista in the Battle of Palo Alto (Texas). The Mexicans will retreat to a seemingly more defensible position at Resaca de la Palma the following day, but Taylor will pursue and beat them badly there too.
1864: Union Army forces under the command of Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and Confederate forces under Gen. Robert E. Lee clash in the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse. The outcome at Spotsylvania Courthouse will be inconclusive and the casualties terribly heavy. In less than two weeks, Grant will again break contact and continue his advance toward Richmond.
1904: U.S. Marines land at Tangier, Morocco to protect the Belgian legation.
1911: U.S. Navy Capt. Washington I. Chambers places an order for two A-1 Triad floatplanes from the Curtiss aircraft company. Thus, May 8 becomes the official birthday of Naval Aviation.
Curtiss A-1 Triad float plane
1945: V-E Day: The unconditional surrender of German forces signed by Gen. Alfred Jodl at the “little red schoolhouse” (supreme allied headquarters in Reims, France) the previous day becomes official. Although clashes between the Wehrmacht and the Red Army will continue for another day, Nazi Germany has laid down their arms. After nearly six years of fighting, claiming tens of millions of lives in the largest and bloodiest conflict the world had ever seen, the European Theater of World War II is over.
1972: Following a massive invasion of South Vietnam by the North Vietnamese Army, Pres. Richard M. Nixon announces that he has ordered the mining of North Vietnamese ports to stop the flow of weapons to the communists. (featured image)
Original article written by OpsLens Contributor Chris Carter.
