Diane Rehm Apologizes for Insisting Bernie Sanders Has Israeli Citizenship

Diane Rehm, a Washington radio host whose show is widely syndicated on National Public Radio, apologized Wednesday for saying presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has Israeli citizenship, which Sanders repeatedly denied.

"On today’s show, I made a mistake," read "An Apology From Diane" on the episode's website. "Rather than asking Senator and Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders whether he had dual U.S./Israeli citizenship, as I had read in a comment on Facebook, I stated it as fact."

"I want to apologize as well to all our listeners for having made an erroneous statement. I am sorry for the mistake. However, I am glad to play a role in putting this rumor to rest."

Sanders, an independent Vermont senator who is running for the Democratic nomination for president, had talked about a variety of topics on Rehm's Wednesday's show, including foreign policy, when she declared, "Senator, you have dual citizenship with Israel."

Sanders, who was raised Jewish, interrupted her.

Sanders: No I do not have dual citizenship with Israel. I'm an American. That’s—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: No, that’s some of the nonsense that goes on in the internet—

Rehm: Interesting...

Sanders: But that is not something that’s true.

Rehm: Are there members of Congress that do have dual citizenship, or is that part of the fable?

Sanders: I honestly don't know.

Sanders then said he was "offended a little bit by that comment," and said, "I do not have any dual citizenship."

To contact the authors on this story: Ben Brody at btenerellabr@bloomberg.net Kerry Luft at kluft2@bloomberg.net