Sanders: ‘Our Democracy is Being Owned by a Handful of Billionaires’

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is concerned about the amount of money in U.S. politics.

In an interview with ABC News, Sanders said, “It’s not just about Hillary Clinton or Bill Clinton. It is about a political system today that is dominated by big money. It’s about the Koch brothers being prepared to spend $900 million dollars in the coming election.

“So do I have concerns about the Clinton Foundation and that money? I do,” Sanders continued. “But I am concerned about Sheldon Adelson and his billions. I’m concerned about the Koch Brothers and their billions. We’re looking at a system where our democracy is being owned by a handful of billionaires.”

The Vermont senator’s comments come as Republicans continue to argue that there’s been a conflict of interest for Clinton through foreign governments donating huge sums of money to the Clinton Foundation as the former secretary of state runs for president.

On Thursday The Boston Globe reported that the Clinton Health Access Initiative, which is part of the Clinton Foundation, didn’t send data on foreign donations to the State Department to review while Clinton was secretary of state. The Globe noted that in that period donations from foreign governments to initiative grew by tens of millions of dollars.

Sanders, on Thursday, jumped into the Democratic 2016 primary field as a liberal alternative to Clinton. The Independent senator who caucuses with Democrats said he would be different in terms of fundraising as he runs for president.

“I am not going to start a super PAC. I’m not going to go around the country talking to millionaires. Now I’m saving my time because they wouldn’t give me any money anyhow and that’s fine,” Sanders said.