Bernie Sanders’ anti-Netflix crusade hits the skids after filings expose awkward twist

By Fox News · Fox News

Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt., used campaign funds to pay for a subscription to Netflix from January to March despite his long-running criticism of the streaming service's tax practices, Federal Election Commission records show. Over the years, Sanders has repeatedly criticized Netflix for allegedly not paying its "fair share" of taxes and for raising prices on consumers as its executives grow wealthier. In contrast to these criticisms, the senator’s campaign began paying the streaming service $46.79 a month in January to cover a "subscription." "Corporate greed is Netflix doubling its profit last year to a record $5.3 billion, avoiding over $1 billion in taxes [and] blaming a 10.7% price increase on ‘inflation’ squeezing $1.35 billion from its 75 million subscribers while its CEO became $200 million richer in the pandemic," Sanders wrote in March 2022. Sanders has also, on multiple occasions, criticized Netflix for paying $0 in federal taxes. Netflix has sharply reduced its federal tax liability for some years by using a variety of corporate tax credits. BILL MAHER CALLS OUT BERNIE SANDERS, SAYS HE'S TIRED OF HEARING THE RICH DON'T PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE OF TAXES "Your $8.99 Netflix subscription is more than the company paid in federal income taxes last year (nothing)," the senator posted to social media in 2019. "We are going to make massive corporations finally pay their fair share." Senate campaigns have only released their financial information up to March, meaning that Sanders’ donor-funded Netflix subscription may be ongoing. Sanders' campaign did not respond to a request for comment after being reached by Fox News Digital Tuesday morning. UNEARTHED FEC RECORDS EXPOSES VULNERABLE DEM SENATOR'S HYPOCRISY ON TAKING CASH FROM BILLIONAIRES The Vermont senator has faced criticism in the past over his use of campaign funds. In 2023, Sanders transferred $200,000 in donor cash to the Sanders Institute, a nonprofit organization run by his wife and stepson. Since then, Sa…