Bernie Sanders again refuses to address ongoing FBI investigation of his wife

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders (I) once again refused to address the ongoing FBI investigation into his wife, Jane Sanders, when he appeared on MSNBC's "All In" with Chris Hayes on Thursday.

The FBI is currently investigating Sanders' wife for bank fraud after she secured a $10 million loan from People’s United Bank in 2010 to purchase 33 acres of land for the now defunct Burlington College where she was president from 2004 to 2011. The couple has retained two high-profile Washington defense attorneys.

Hayes asked the senator point blank if he had abused his senatorial powers in order to help secure the loan for his wife.  Sanders dodged the question, choosing instead to blame Republicans for spreading lies about the case.

“And do you know where that allegation came from? That allegation came from the vice chairman of the Vermont Republican Party and Donald Trump’s Vermont campaign state director,” Sanders said. “That is an absolute lie.”

“That’s what you expect from the Trump administration and people associated with Donald Trump,” Sanders said.

Sanders then tried to steer the conversation away from the investigation and focus on disparaging the GOP's stances on liberal issues such as health care and climate change.

“These people do not choose to debate the real issues facing the American people. Whether it’s the disastrous health care bill, whether it’s climate change, whether it’s their attack on women’s rights or so many other issues,” Sanders said.

This is the second time Sanders has attempted to dodge questions about the FBI investigation of his wife. Sanders also dodged the issue when he was on with CNN's Erin Burnett on Tuesday. During the interview, Sanders was asked to address the investigation and asserted that the accusations had come from Donald Trump's Vermont campaign manager before refusing to say more.

Aside from these two instances, the media has largely ignored the FBI investigation. As news was circulating about Sanders' legal troubles, Sanders was invited on NBC News' "Meet the Press" Sunday. Host Chuck Todd did not once even mention the FBI investigation.