“Capitalist Concerns Over Sanders Institute Funding from Campaign.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Democratic senator from Vermont, has recently come under scrutiny for transferring $75,000 from his campaign’s funds to the nonprofit organization run by his wife, Jane, and stepson, David Driscoll. This financial transaction took place in the third quarter and is in addition to a previous $200,000 transfer earlier in the year, as reported by Fox News Digital based on Federal Election Commission filings.
The nonprofit organization in question is known as the Sanders Institute, which was established by Jane Sanders and David Driscoll six years ago with the stated purpose of serving as a progressive think tank. However, concerns have been raised about the institute’s actual activities and the significant compensation received by David Driscoll. Kendra Arnold, the executive director of the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust, has voiced legitimate concerns about the transfer of campaign funds to family members, emphasizing that such actions are not allowed under campaign finance regulations.
The key issue lies in whether the salaries paid to the institute’s personnel represent fair compensation for bona fide services. If the nonprofit and its executive director are genuinely producing valuable work in exchange for the funds received, it may not be illegal but is viewed unfavorably. However, if there is little or no evidence of meaningful work being done, it could constitute a serious campaign finance violation.
The Sanders Institute was initially launched in 2017 with a mission to contribute to the revitalization of democracy and support progressive causes without a partisan focus. It aimed to address critical issues facing the nation through informed discourse and bold thinking, rather than dwelling on partisan politics.
In 2019, the institute suspended its operations as Bernie Sanders entered the Democratic presidential primary to avoid any perception of impropriety. Nevertheless, it has quietly resumed its activities since then. Recent tax forms from 2021 reveal that the institute disbursed a significant portion of its contributions to salaries while demonstrating minimal work and achieving limited identifiable accomplishments.
During that year, the institute raised approximately $717,000 and allocated $257,000 to wages, including a substantial salary for David Driscoll, who serves as its executive director. The organization claimed to have used funds for projects such as “The Timeline Project” and a news site. However, there is limited evidence of these projects on its website or social media channels.
Additionally, despite stating its intention to support other like-minded institutions, the institute’s 2021 tax records show no grants to other progressive organizations. This pattern of financial transfers from Bernie Sanders’ campaign to the family-run nonprofit was not exclusive to the 2021 election cycle, as a similar transfer of $350,000 occurred in the previous year, constituting a substantial portion of the institute’s revenue.
As of now, Sen. Bernie Sanders and his campaign have not responded to requests for comments regarding these financial transactions and the activities of the Sanders Institute.
