Sen. Bernie Sanders loves lecturing Americans from a moral high horse, especially when pushing his socialist worldview. But this time, the spotlight is on him—and it’s not flattering. Despite serving on the board of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum since 2007, Sanders has reportedly failed to attend a single meeting in almost two decades. That’s not hyperbole. That’s the attendance record.
The Vermont independent was appointed in 2007 to the Holocaust Memorial Council, which oversees the museum located roughly two miles from the Capitol—close enough to walk, certainly close enough for an Uber. The council meets just twice a year. And yet, according to records provided by museum staff to the New York Post, Sanders has missed every single meeting since his appointment.
One fellow board member wasn’t exactly impressed. Robert Garson, president of the American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists, summed it up bluntly: “There are two large meetings every year where people fly in from all over the country for it. But Bernie Sanders couldn’t be bothered to walk across the road in DC.”
Now, a bipartisan group is reportedly working to have Sanders removed from the board. And it’s not hard to see why. After the Hamas massacre of Oct. 7, 2023, the surge of antisemitic protests on college campuses, and ongoing anti-Jewish attacks in major U.S. cities, one might think a board member of the Holocaust Museum would make an appearance. Apparently not.
Sanders’ long list of missed meetings is especially striking given that the Holocaust Memorial Council exists to honor the Jewish experience and preserve the memory of one of history’s greatest atrocities. When board members don’t show up at all, it inevitably raises questions about commitment. (When you think of high-profile board members who don’t seem to do much, Hunter Biden comes to mind—and now, apparently, Bernie Sanders joins that club.)
According to the council’s website, the body was created by Congress in 1980 and consists of 68 members. Fifty-five are appointed by the president, five by Congress, and three serve ex officio from federal departments. Sanders was appointed by the Senate, making his absence even more notable.
It seems the council could manage just fine with one fewer member—especially one for whom a short walk or quick ride has proven too much to ask for nearly 18 years. The silver lining is that accountability still matters, and Americans are increasingly paying attention to who shows up and who just talks. In the long run, that kind of scrutiny is healthy—for institutions, and for the country.
