[U]ntil we broke stories about allegations of loan fraud at Burlington College in 2014, the public didn’t know.
Reporter Morgan True has revealed in a series of recent stories how the former president of the college, Jane Sanders, overstated donor pledges to borrow millions of dollars for the purchase of a property in Burlington. A year ago the college closed under financial duress.
Jane, the wife of Bernie Sanders, the popular junior senator from Vermont and former presidential candidate, is now at the center of an FBI investigation.
Ongoing investigative reporting of this nature requires dogged persistence and a vigilant commitment to accuracy and fairness. Sources refuse to talk, documents are difficult to obtain and intimidation tactics are common.
VTDigger is the only news outlet in Vermont that is dedicated to this kind of painstaking investigative coverage.
Since January, in addition to our daily coverage of statewide news, we have investigated an alleged $1.4 million embezzlement scheme perpetrated by a town clerk; reported on allegations of sexual harassment and fraud at an opiate treatment center; and continued coverage of allegations of fraud at Jay Peak Resort.
We need to raise $111,000 by June 15 to keep VTDigger strong in 2017.
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VTDigger.org is a project of The Vermont Journalism Trust, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our Tax ID number is 27-1553931. Your gift is fully tax-deductible. Checks may be mailed to VTDigger, 26 State St., Suite 8, Montpelier VT 05602. For our 2015 annual report, click here.