Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) suggested on Sunday that Republicans are to blame for the federal investigation into allegations that his wife, Jane Sanders, committed fraud in obtaining bank loans to secure a land deal while she was president of the now defunct Burlington College.

The FBI is also probing whether Bernie Sanders used his political influence to help secure the loans.

CNN host Jake Tapper asked Sanders if he, or anyone in his Senate office, had contacted the bank involved in the deal to help approve loans.

“The answer is absolutely not,” the Vermont senator responded before defending his wife’s tenure at the college and blaming political opponents for the investigation.