Sanders’ wife defends non-disclosure, vacation home buy

FILE - In this July 25, 2016 file photo, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. speaks at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. Sanders’ presidential campaign got
two deadline extensions on filing a candidate disclosure with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), and then was excused from doing so after he dropped out of
the race. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) — FILE - In this July 25, 2016 file photo, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. speaks at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. Sanders’ presidential campaign got two deadline extensions on filing a candidate disclosure with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), and then was excused from doing so after he dropped out of the race. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

By Associated Press August 18, 2016 2 min read

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) – Sen. Bernie Sanders has pushed hard for transparency on U.S. trade and campaign finance, but has been far less aggressive in disclosing his own personal finances.

Now his wife and campaign confidante, Jane O’Meara Sanders, is defending the senator’s decision not to file a candidate personal finance disclosure and talking about the purchase of a new vacation home.

Sanders and his campaign asked the Federal Election Commission for two 45-day extensions, in mid-May and late June, on filing the personal finance disclosures candidates are usually required to produce, and then decided not to file at all once he dropped out of the race and endorsed Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, Jane Sanders confirmed Thursday.

“I guess our campaign just said ‘why bother’,” said the wife of the Vermont independent senator who challenged Clinton for the Democratic nomination.

FEC officials confirmed Sanders was excused from filing after dropping out of the race.