At last night’s debate, Senator Sanders was confronted with his vote in support of an amendment to protect the “extreme nativist” vigilante group known as the Minutemen – and then flatly denied voting to support them.
JORGE RAMOS: Did you support the Minutemen? Did you support the Minutemen as the Secretary said?
BERNIE SANDERS: Of course not. There was a piece of legislation supported by dozens and dozens of members of the House which codified existing legislation.
The fact checkers have weighed in and concluded that Clinton was right:
- Washington Post Fact Checker: “While Sanders suggested the measure was a small part of a larger bill, it was approved in a recorded vote as a stand-alone amendment.”
- Politifact: “Still, as with Clinton’s charge about indefinite detention, her statement about Sanders supporting an amendment favorable to the Minutemen is largely accurate.”
- Politico Wrongometer: “Actually, Sanders did vote to protect the Minutemen”
- AP Fact Check: “THE FACTS: She was right about his vote”
- Factcheck.org: “But in this case, Sanders voted in favor of a stand-alone amendment proposed by Minutemen-friendly Republicans. Sanders argued that the legislation merely codified existing policy, but it was opposed by a majority of Democrats.”
