Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey says he'll be exonerated in his federal bribery case and will still be "New Jersey’s senior senator.”

Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey defiantly pushed back against federal corruption charges on Monday, saying cash authorities found in his home was from his savings account and was on hand for emergencies, it wasn’t bribe proceeds.

He said he believed that he’d be exonerated and that prosecutors sometimes get the facts wrong.

“I recognize this will be the biggest fight yet, but as I have stated throughout this whole process, I firmly believe that when all the facts are presented, not only will I be exonerated, but I still will be the New Jersey’s senior senator,” Menendez said at Hudson County Community College’s campus in Union City, where he grew up. He did not respond to questions and did not address whether he will seek reelection next year.

Addressing allegations in the indictment unsealed Friday that authorities found cash stuffed in envelopes and clothing at his home, Menendez said the funds were draw from his personal savings account and stemmed his parents fear of confiscation of funds from their time in Cuba.

  • Zombiepirate@lemmy.worldEnglish
    18·
    1 year ago

    Is this where we circle the wagons and yell "witch hunt" while making every kind of excuse possible and accusing everyone who disagrees of being a pedo?

    My copy of the Soros Guide to Globalism is still in the mail, so I need some direction on what do do in case of an egregious scandal. We can't just admit this guy is a corrupt shit bag and call for his ejection from Congress, right?

    • 30mag@lemmy.worldEnglish
      13·
      1 year ago

      Send him a strongly worded letter like they did the last time he was indicted.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Menendez#2015_indictment

      In April 2018, the United States Senate Select Committee on Ethics "severely admonished" Menendez in a letter,[195][196] writing:
      The Committee has found that over a six-year period you knowingly and repeatedly accepted gifts of significant value from Dr. Melgen without obtaining required Committee approval, and that you failed to publicly disclose certain gifts as required by Senate Rule and federal law. Additionally, while accepting these gifts, you used your position as a Member of the Senate to advance Dr. Melgen's personal and business interests. The Committee has determined that this conduct violated Senate Rules, federal law, and applicable standards of conduct. Accordingly, the Committee issues you this Public Letter of Admonition and also directs you to repay the fair market value of all impermissible gifts not already repaid.

    • givesomefucks@lemmy.worldEnglish
      114·
      1 year ago

      We can’t just admit this guy is a corrupt shit bag and call for his ejection from Congress, right?

      Dem voters do a decent job of holding our politicians accountable…

      But the party leadership doesn't see it that way. The only time they go against a D is if they're a progressive and a threat to the status quo

      In Washington, however, where his party holds a bare Senate majority, some of Menendez’s Democratic colleagues have stopped short of urging him to give up his seat, notably Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, of New York, and Majority Whip Dick Durbin, of Illinois.