In an interview, NPR host Diane Rehm accused Jewish Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders of being an Israeli citizen.
He’s not.
In the clip, flagged by the Washington Free Beacon’s David Rutz, Rehm apologizes upon realizing her mistake, saying she had read it on the Internet. Here’s the transcript, courtesy of the Beacon:
REHM: Senator, you have dual citizenship with Israel.
SANDERS: Well, no I do not have dual citizenship with Israel. I’m an American. I don’t know where that question came from. I am an American citizen, and I have visited Israel on a couple of occasions. No, I’m an American citizen, period.
REHM: I understand from a list we have gotten that you were on that list. Forgive me if that is—
SANDERS: That’s some of the nonsense that goes on in the Internet. But that is absolutely not true.
REHM: Interesting. Are there members of Congress who do have dual citizenship or is that part of the fable?
SANDERS: I honestly don’t know, but I have read that on the Internet. You know, my dad came to this country from Poland at the age of 17 without a nickel in his pocket. He loved this country. I am, you know, I got offended a little bit by that comment, and I know it’s been on the Internet. I am obviously an American citizen, and I do not have any dual citizenship.
WATCH:
There are indeed a few Internet lists of dual citizen politicians that include Sanders, but they are typically anti-Semitic conspiratorial garbage.