Bernie Sanders defends millionaire status: 'If you write a best-selling book, you can be a millionaire, too'

Sen. Bernie Sanders brushed off criticism of his millionaire status during an interview with The New York Times, also saying that his tax returns would be "a little bit more boring" than President Donald Trump's.

What did Sanders say? "I wrote a best-selling book," Sanders said, when the NYT reporter reminded him of his own wealth. "If you write a best-selling book, you can be a millionaire, too."

Why did he say that? Sanders has faced growing criticism in recent weeks for not having released his tax returns, even while congressional Democrats pursue any avenue they can to force President Trump to release his tax returns.

Sanders said he's going to release 10 years of tax returns by Monday, April 15.

"On the day in the very immediate future, certainly before April 15, we release ours, I hope that Donald Trump will do exactly the same. We are going to release 10 years of our tax returns, and we hope that on that day Donald Trump will do the same."

Has he ever released any returns? Sanders released his 2014 tax return showing that he earned just over $200,000. He also released a summary of his 2016 return. His Senate salary is $174,000 per year.

How did he become a millionaire? As Sanders said, he wrote a best-selling book. That book, "Our Revolution," along with another book titled "Bernie Sanders Guide to Political Revolution" helped him earn more than $1 million in 2017, according to his Senate financial disclosure documentation.

It's always about Trump: Sanders repeatedly mentions Pres. Trump when asked about his tax returns, attempting to create separation between the two politicians who have not released their returns.

"Not being a billionaire, not having investments in Saudi Arabia, wherever he has investments, all over the world, mine will be a little bit more boring," Sanders said.