He could very well be. The Democrats give him Senate Committee seats with no issue, and only a few months back the media was making noise about Sandy Cortez not paying her party dues for her committee assignments, and they haven't bitched at Bernie. So hey--maybe he quietly ponies up like a good little Democrat. I don't know.

I do know that on paper he's a registered independent, meaning he gets as much say in the Democrat party's platform and leaders as Donald Trump. So "bending the knee" would be a good description, if true.