Bernie Sanders Says Trump Isn’t ‘Draining Swamp’ With Billionaire Cronies Running Show
Bernie Sanders Image by Getty Images
Bernie Sanders attacked Donald Trump on Sunday for breaking his promise to end corruption in Washington, D.C. by seating at his inauguration a coterie of wealthy donors.
“I found it somewhat amusing that Mr. Trump, President Trump, was punching the establishment,” the Vermont senator told John Dickerson of CBS’ “Face the Nation.” “But right behind him, sitting in the VIP sections, were billionaire, after billionaire, after billionaire.”
A planning document leaked to the Intercept shows that the inauguration committee gave the best seats at the event to mega-donors like casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, real estate magnate Richard LeFrak and finance industry titan Carl Icahn. Other prime spots were given to friends and family of the president and Vice President Mike Pence.
Seating at Saturday morning’s church service at the National Cathedral also rewarded of donors. Four dozen of the spots in the pews went to Thomas J. Barrack, Jr., a little known billionaire who headed up the inauguration committee, which fundraised $100 million for the festivities.
Contact Daniel J. Solomon at solomon@forward.com or on Twitter @DanielJSolomon
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