(trendingpoliticsnews) – Democrat Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey, who once accused former President Donald Trump of being “compromised” by the Russian government, has been indicted on international corruption charges. The indictment comes after Menendez’s bold claims against Trump, where he questioned the former President’s ties to Russia.
Back in February 2019, Menendez took to the Senate floor to express his concerns about Trump’s potential connections with Russia. He stated, “Over the last two years, many of us have grappled with a very difficult question about our President. It’s a question that never before could we even imagine thinking about an American president, let alone saying aloud on the floor of the Senate.”
He further added, “I’m talking about the entirely legitimate question of whether Donald Trump could be compromised by the Russian government.” Menendez continued to emphasize the links between Trump, his associates, and the Russian government, suggesting a potential compromise.
However, the tables have turned for Menendez. On Friday, he was federally indicted on bribery offenses.
An indictment filed against Menendez and his wife Nadine describes how the power couple accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars from three businessmen to direct the State Department to encourage the government of Egypt to accept their business. The bribes included cash, gold, payments toward a home mortgage, “compensation for a low-or-no-show job,” a luxury vehicle, and “other things of value.”
A search warrant executed of Senator Menendez’s home turned up $100,000 in gold and $480,000 in hidden cash across clothing, closets, and a safe, according to the AP. Menendez, who once questioned the integrity of a former President, now finds himself under scrutiny.
Reacting to the indictment, Menendez said in a press release, “For years, forces behind the scenes have repeatedly attempted to silence my voice and dig my political grave. Since this investigation was leaked nearly a year ago, there has been an active smear campaign of anonymous sources and innuendos to create an air of impropriety where none exists.”
He urged his supporters and the community to reserve judgment and expressed confidence that the matter would be resolved in his favor.
Menendez, who was already facing similar charges related to illegal lobbying on behalf of a Florida doctor, is set to face voters next year in what will surely be an upended reelection campaign, should one occur at all. The charges are not only heavy but historic in nature: According to the Senate Historical Office, Sen.atorMenendez is the first sitting senator to have been indicted on two unrelated criminal allegations.
The powerful chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has built a career in office spanning three decades across both the House and Senate, surviving multiple challenges in his home state of New Jersey and previously beating criminal charges. In November 2017 a jury deadlocked on charges including bribery, fraud and conspiracy, and a judge dismissed some counts.
Democrats narrowly control the upper chamber and face an uphill battle to keep control in next year’s elections. Menendez, who represents a reliably blue state, may now become an albatross for his party, which is already facing headwinds in its quests to reelect Joe Manchin (D-WV), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Jon Tester (D-MT).
Sen. Menendez may still face another probe from the IRS, which indicated back in May that it is investigating the New Jersey Democrat related to tax improprieties. In April Menendez had established a legal defense fund to cover the mounting legal fees related to the federal criminal probe.
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