Bernie Sanders

Sanders repeatedly introduced resolutions of disapproval seeking to block US arms sales to Israel, citing civilian casualties and obligations under humanitarian law in Gaza. In 2026, he again introduced resolutions targeting nearly 660 million dollars in bomb sales.

State of the evidence

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Directly implicated

Following his 2019 heart attack, Sanders had suggested that he would release detailed medical records before the primaries. In February 2020, he concluded that the doctors' letters already published were sufficient and that he did not need to release further documents.

State of the evidence

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Directly implicated

Elizabeth Warren confirmed in January 2020 that, during a private meeting in 2018, Sanders had told her he did not believe a woman could win the presidential election. The episode triggered a public rift between two previously allied candidates.

Attribution

Personally implicated

Sanders said it was unfair to claim that "everything" about the Cuban Revolution was bad and cited the literacy campaign conducted under Fidel Castro. The statement drew strong criticism, particularly in Florida, for what was perceived as leniency towards an authoritarian regime.

State of the evidence

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Personally implicated

Former female staff members from Sanders's 2016 campaign alleged sexual harassment, sexist behaviour and pay disparities within the organisation. Sanders said he had been unaware of these incidents at the time and subsequently apologised to women who had experienced mistreatment.

State of the evidence

Allegations

Attribution

Directly implicated

Unionised organisers working for Sanders's presidential campaign argued that their salaries and working hours could result in effective pay below the $15-an-hour minimum wage the candidate advocated nationally. The apparent contradiction attracted extensive media coverage.

State of the evidence

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Directly implicated

The FEC examined the participation of Australian Labor Party delegates in Bernie Sanders's 2016 campaign, including expenses covered by the Australian party. The Commission identified issues concerning foreign in-kind contributions and reached conciliation agreements with the parties involved.

State of the evidence

Documented

Sanders voted in 2005 for the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which substantially restricts civil lawsuits against gun manufacturers and sellers for crimes committed with their products. The vote became a major line of attack during the 2016 primary.

State of the evidence

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Directly implicated

Members of Sanders's campaign exploited a security flaw at the DNC's data provider to access voter data belonging to Clinton's campaign. The DNC temporarily suspended the Sanders campaign's access to its own data, a senior staff member was dismissed, and Sanders apologised to Clinton during a debate.

State of the evidence

Documented

In the House, Sanders voted against several versions of the Brady Bill, which included a federal waiting period for handgun purchases. These votes were used against him during Democratic primaries, particularly as gun control debates intensified.

State of the evidence

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Directly implicated

Sanders and a Burlington delegation travelled to the Soviet Union in 1988 as part of a twinning project with Yaroslavl, days after his wedding. Opponents subsequently frequently described the trip as a "honeymoon in the Soviet Union".

State of the evidence

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Directly implicated

While serving as mayor of Burlington, Sanders visited Sandinista-ruled Nicaragua and met Daniel Ortega. He opposed US policy supporting the Contras and regarded certain Sandinista policies as a social experiment worth defending against intervention from Washington.

State of the evidence

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Personally implicated

In an essay published in 1972 in a Vermont alternative newspaper, Bernie Sanders used a deliberately provocative scenario involving a woman's rape fantasy and a male sadomasochistic scene to criticise sexual roles and power relationships. The text resurfaced during his 2015 presidential campaign.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated