A spokesman for Sanders dismissed the allegation as “preposterous,” “politically instigated” and an example of an outrageous personal attack.
Toensing, a lawyer, said he was following up on a request he made in January for a federal investigation of Sanders’ wife in her former role as president of Burlington College. Toensing alleged then that in applying for a loan to purchase a new campus, O’Meara Sanders overstated by nearly $2 m
On Thursday, Toensing told a federal prosecutor he had new information.
“I was recently approached and informed that Senator Bernie Sanders’ office improperly pressured People’s United Bank to approve the loan application,” Toensing said in letters to U.S. Attorney Eric Miller and to Fred Gibson Jr., the acting inspector general of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
In an interview, Toensing declined to reveal who approached him or what evidence the person offered. Asked what kind of pressure was allegedly exerted, he said, “The bank was told to get it done.”
The bank’s Vermont president, Michael Seaver, did not return a call seeking comment.
Miller said he cannot say whether his office will pursue the allegation. “As a general matter, my office does not comment on public requests to conduct criminal investigations. Every such request is evaluated for appropriate action, and we are committed to enforcing federal law in a neutral and impartial manner,” he said via email.
Miller has similarly declined to say whether there is an investigation underway based on Toensing’s January request.
The college announced May 16 that it is closing, citing “the crushing weight of the debt incurred by the purchase of the archdiocese property on North Avenue” — funded by the loan. Asked at the time if there was an investigation, interim president Carol Moore said, “No comment.”
Board member Tom Torti told Seven Days, “I have heard that federal people have been asking questions.” But he said he knew nothing more.
Toensing also wrote Thursday to Sanders’ Senate office, asking the senator to release records including his Senate office’s correspondence with People’s United Bank and the Vermont Economic Development Authority.
In both letters, Toensing said he was representing Wendy Wilton of Rutland, a Vermont Catholic whose interest in the situation stems from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington’s sale of property to Burlington College. Wilton is a former Republican state senator who ran unsuccessfully for state treasurer in 2012.
Sanders’ spokesman Michael Briggs pointed to Toensing’s and Wilton’s GOP links in a response to the allegations via email Thursday.
He wrote:
Brady Toensing is the vice chair of the Vermont Republican Party. Wendy Wilkins [sic] is a former Republican candidate for statewide office. Bernie is currently running for president of the United States to make certain that the Republican candidate, Donald Trump, will not become president of the United States and do disastrous harm to our country. Nothing more needs to be said about this preposterous and politically-instigated charge. Sadly, making outrageous and lying personal attacks against candidates and their families is what modern-day Republican politics is all about.
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“In an interview, Toensing declined to reveal who approached him or what evidence the person offered.”
So why are you reporting this, Terri? An “anonymous” source from one very biased source? Breitbart “News” would be proud.
With another ridiculous charge, Mr. Toensing is quickly becoming a parody of himself. It simply goes to show that, whether nationally or here in Vermont, Republicans are our biggest problem and that they should be voted out of existence. Mr Toensing must be very proud of his little Trumpian escapade. What’s next, Brad? Are you going to mimic Trump’s haircut, too? These people have no shame!
Biased because he is a Republican? Why should the source be revealed a la Watergate? I fully support having this contentious and seemingly slip-shod loan investigated, sooner rather than later with Burlington College officially kaput.
Why is it when motives and questions regarding ethical behavior are made from the left, there is not the condemnation there is when it is the opposite? This whole affair should be investigated as it sure sounds like there was impropriety from either Jane Sanders and/or Bernie’s influence in approving a loan that otherwise would not have been approved. Why not take all the evidence and present it in the most transparent manner possible. If there is nothing to hide then why not prove it and put it to bed now?
Seriously folks- Bernie Sanders has not come down off the cross to save humanity- he is a POLITICAL ANIMAL ( albeit and elder one) AND WANTS NOTHING MORE THAN TO WIN…if he can’t lie and beliitle- he’ll get his unhappy minions to do it for him…..JANE ARE YOU STILL LOOKING FOR THE REST OF YOUR TAXES? Maybe you could help donny dark to find his too.
“Wendy Wilkins,” eh? Methinks Michael Briggs could use a refresher course on Vermont politics.
Come on people, you know darn well that Sanders had something to do with it, and you know that he had it swept under the rug about Janey lying to the bank and the amount that were pledged..Because he is big shot Bernie Sanders the draft dodger Socialist the liar.. and all you liberal Bernie kissers just don’t want to believe it..I talked to ole Bernie about Social Security 2 yrs ago and he said that we are lucky to get SS as the Gov don’t have to give us any money.. I told him that we paid into SS, that the Government doesn’t put a dime in..they just take what they want from it.. He said I was wrong that it’s the Governments money….Friggin jerk.. but he is all for illegals getting SS..So go ahead and hit the dislike all you want..Maybe some day you’ll take your blinders off and see the real Socialist Sanders and his lying thief of a wife..
Well Well well … I get now why Janey sticky fingers can’t locate her tax reports. There could be something in them they don’t want the public to see.
Oh wait the FEC Investigating too 639 pages of violations by Bernie. Tsk tsk
“The bank’s Vermont president, Michael Seaver, did not return a call seeking comment.”
He’s either the source or very close to it. The source is INSIDE the bank. Did he get a call from Bernie’s office leaning on him?
I am a “liberal” and I don’t like liberal con artists any more than I like conservative ones. I do think Team Sanders are a pair of swindlers who have put themselves first for years and they have done this at the expense of the citizens of Vermont. The Senator has done precious little in his many years in DC. He’s great at complaining, and, if this report pans out, even better at chiseling.
This Old Man, He Played One Too Many Times–and he needs to be primaried by a real Democrat, maybe one of those “establishment” ones in the mold of JFK or RFK, not “let’s put my family on the payroll” Bernie.
Heywood and the rest of you. are willing to believe that Jane borrowed money for land, and then left Burlington College in the lurch. even though that 5 or 6 years ago. Meanwhile, you aren’t willing to fathom that Hillary did anything wrong with a “private” email server. I would gather none of you have ever served in the military and taken an oath to protect this country from all enemies foreign and domestic. Also, it is blatantly obvious that you know know about network security, or information technology for that matter.
The secretary of state has to sign a non-disclosure agreement when they commence work for the government. Having an offsite “private” server creates logistical nightmare that would cost a lot to maintain the security of said server.
Hillary Clinton is that largest threat to our national security that has existed since the Cuban Missile Crisis in the 60’s.
#AnyoneButHillary
@Don Dean. what are you talking about?? Janey Sanders didn’t borrow money, she LIED about the amount that people pledged..I know of 2 families who are fighting this, the amount they pledged Janey put down their pledges for $1,000’s more then what they said..She’s a sneaky crook, a liar just like her husband, the socialist commie..
I may not have been in the service but I come from a long line of Military family, from my great grandfather to my husband who was in Vietnam, I just lost my Son last July, he was killed.he was in the Military…I know a lot about the oath that the Military takes when they join, they put their lives on the line so that 90% of these crooked politicians can sit on their asses and steal money and a lot of them are DRAFT DODGERS just like Sanders..Killary Clinton is the worse thing this country could have aside from obumass, her husband was worthless too..Sanders hasn’t done anything for our country either except draw a paycheck when he became mayor of Burlington then ran for Senate..The Socialist should go back to NY where he and his crooked wife are from..She should give back the $250,000 she stole from the college!!!!
You just got to consider the source > Brady Toensing, the vice chair of the Vermont Republican Party, alleged Thursday that Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) Senate office pressured a bank to approve a loan to Burlington College,< this looks more like the pointless attack from the republicans to smear Bernie as it is obvious now that they, the republicans would rather face hillary on Nov. 8th than Bernie, go figure.
Boy, Bernie kicking Republicans tails all over the nation has really gotten under you people’s skin, hasn’t it? Your exile from power in Vermont is about to be duplicated, and you’ll soon be a marginal party nationally, just as are here in Vermont. Hence, you carp and scream and spew words devoid of facts in your pain and rage. Frankly, I’m enjoying it.