New Jersey Sen. Menendez and his wife are indicted on bribery charges 31m
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey and his wife have been indicted on charges of bribery.
Federal prosecutors on Friday announced the charges against the 69-year-old Democrat nearly six years after an earlier criminal case against him ended with a deadlocked jury. The latest indictment is unrelated to the earlier charges that alleged Menendez accepted lavish gifts to pressure government officials on behalf of a Florida doctor.
The Senate Historical Office says Menendez appears to be the first sitting senator in U.S. history to have been indicted on two unrelated criminal allegations. Menendez faces reelection next year in a bid to extend his three-decade career in Washington, and as Democrats hold a narrow majority in the Senate.
The first time Menendez was indicted, he had been accused of using his political influence to help a Florida eye doctor who had lavished him with gifts and campaign contributions. Menendez appears to be the first sitting senator in U.S. history to have been indicted on two unrelated criminal allegations, according to a list maintained by the Senate Historical Office.
The new charges follow a yearslong investigation that examined, among other things, the dealings of a New Jersey businessman — a friend of Menendez’s wife — who secured sole authorization from the Egyptian government to certify that meat imported into that country meets Islamic dietary requirements. Investigators also asked questions about the Menendez family’s interactions with a New Jersey developer.
Menendez faces re-election next year in a bid to extend his three-decade career in Washington, and as Democrats hold a narrow majority in the Senate.
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The indictment is damning and a major headache for democrats who have a thread-like majority in the Senate.
They'll need him to vote as the indictment and the House investigation of Joe Biden distract from the media's "Trump" narrative.
Let's just wait and see if democrats in the Senate fall over themselves trying to justify and protect Menendez, like House republicans do for their own.
The democrats actually have fewer members of the Senate than republicans.
The 3 independants:
Kyrsten Sinema has voted 93% for Biden's policies.
Angus King 98%
Joe Manchin 87.9%
https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2022/dec/14/karine-jean-pierre/sinema-voted-biden-most-time-less-often-majority-d/#:~:text=That%20breakdown%20found%20Sinema%20voted,compared%20with%20her%20independent%20colleagues.
Thank for information that nobody asked for. but your deflection from the fact that there are more republicans than democrats in the Senate is noted.
PS, if you are going to try to make a point, at least try to be correct.
The 3 independants:
Kyrsten Sinema has voted 93% for Biden's policies.
Angus King 98%
Joe Manchin 87.9%
Joe Manchin is not an independent, he is still a democrat.
Hanging on by a frayed thread [deleted]
Three independents are in the Senate: Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Angus King of Maine and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona . Sanders and King caucus with the Democrats and Sinema has said she won’t caucus with Senate Republicans . So, the Democrats still hold the majority.
Who controls the Senate? Helping to understand the balance of power (usatoday.com)
Math is hard.
So there are 48 democrats and 49 republicans, that means there are more republicans than democrats.
@!@
“The indictment is damning…”
So this indictment counts even if issued by the dark state conspirators? Your blatant level of hypocrisy is astounding.
Let him and all others be held equally accountable.
These are federal corruption charges just like in 2017.
if he's found guilty by a jury, let him be sentenced to do time in prison. equal justice under the law...
Indeed. If someone has engaged in wrongdoing they should pay the consequences. Does not matter what party, race, gender, etc. apply.
Glad to hear it.
Amen!
Any sort of Republican joy about this presumes NJ won't just send a different Democrat to the Senate.
As we’ve seen, democrats will simply renominate and re-elect him.
It just is amazing that people write comments like this.
Although you are likely to be proved correct, how can you author this as derisive to Ds alone (no mention of the Rs) when your party is going to nominate Trump?
I would have made no comment if you had written: "As we've seen, the electorate will simply renominate and re-elect him.".
As we’ve seen, democrats will simply renominate and re-elect him.
Because he was literally indicted, renominated and reelected by the Democrats in New Jersey already.
ve to Ds alone (no mention of the Rs) when your party is going to nominate Trump?
What does Trump have to do with his history of being indicted and nominated by Democrats? Did you miss the words "As we've seen?"
It's amazing when people write comments that are likely to be proved correct. Oh my goodness.
Is that truncated portion of my comment (omitting the balance of my sentence and my post) honesty what you think I was saying?
I could paraphrase my post, but I think it was crystal clear.
No, I'm just giving you a bit of schtick about how you said it.
I'll leave the "whataboutism" accusations to others.
The GOP is dysfunctional. I do not have much (if any) patience at this point for GOP members who focus on the opposition while allowing Trump to consume their one and only presidential nomination slot.
The GOP needs (desperately) to clean up its house rather than ignore the problem.
Not a damn thing.
A case of deflection and whataboutism.
Deflection from what, exactly?
I am almost sure you already know what you were deflecting from--the seeded article about Menendez, which has nothing at all to do with Republicans or Trump.
Exactly, while the Repubs have Trump, it’s off limits on Dems.
I support holding Menendez accountable for any wrongdoing — especially if criminal. The notion of deflection requires that one be trying to turn attention away from a point they cannot defend. So, if deflecting, I would be trying to avoid saying what I volunteered earlier in this seed.
See my first comment @3 then @3.1.1 and then @1.4.1
In short, buy a vowel.
Wrong. That is not my point and you quite likely know that.
My point is that someone who plans on voting for Trump is living in a glass house throwing stones at the Ds. One cannot, without major league hypocrisy, chastise the Ds for likely re-electing Melendez while supporting the nomination of Trump.
The GOP isn't the subject of the seed.
But if we're going to have Deflection Festival 2023, let's talk about how Democrats are nominating a man who is clearly and obviously suffering from dementia.
Getting back to the actual subject of this seed, they have also renominated a man who is (allegedly) abusing his influence to aid a foreign government.
Glass houses, stones, etc, etc.
No it is not. I was explaining the reasoning behind my comment.
As I noted several times already:
In short, Menedez should be held accountable for his wrongdoings. Like everyone else.
So now we wait to see how these charges are adjudicated.
Okey dokey then.
Simple fact is you deflected and now won't admit to it.
Trump and the Republicans have nothing to do with sleazy Menendez, but you keep pretending that wasn't a deflection if it makes you feel better, I don't give a damn, I know deflection when I see it, and so do others willing to admit to it.
That's it, I don't need to hear more unless and until you admit your deflection.
In short, be honest.
Should have stopped right there and then.
Deflected from what, exactly?
What truth / fact do you think I am trying to deflect from?
Be specific instead of engaging in theatrical (i.e. bullshit) claims.
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As I have already informed you in my post 2.1.18, you are deflecting to Trump and Republicans, which OBVIOUSLY has nothing to do with sleazy Menendez.
Here it is again:
Pretending I wasn't specific is intellectual dishonesty.
Given I started my posts noting that Menendez, et.al. should be held accountable, by what bizarre variant of logic do you conclude I am deflecting from the very position I took?
You offer no specifics of ME deflecting, just your ridiculous claims of such.
Hello?
Then WHY bring Trump and Republicans into a discussion having nothing whatsoever to do with them unless you are merely deflecting? That is senseless.
Good bye!
You need me to explain the notion of using an example while explaining my underlying reasoning?
Buy a couple of vowels.
Never need a thing from you.
Don't care about your "reasoning", I cared about your deflection.
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We know they'll just send another democrat. That is why we are suddenly hearing "equal justice under the law."
Although it is not possible for me to know that he is guilty at this point, I will use this as an opportunity to note that long term politicians no doubt are continually tempted to use their quid-pro-quo power. The longer one is in office, the more likely their ethics have waned.
After all, seems a shame to waste this power when it is so easy to use it for personal gain.
Washington DC always has an element of corruption. There are few things that plague Menendez. One is that he had an enormous appetite for it and left himself wide open and he also was kind of a maverick at the wrong time.
I'm more concerned with ideologues than corrupt officials.
It is easy to condemn Menendez.
Anyone who would ignore what Joe Biden did to the country lacks morals.
Indeed.
I am more concerned with a system in which the electorate tolerates this kind of crap (assuming Menendez is guilty as charged of course).
How can someone who is going to vote for Trump manage to make such a comment? At the very least, one should write "Anyone who would ignore what Joe Biden / Donald Trump did to the country lacks morals." Even then, it is equating Biden with Trump on morality which is patently absurd.
I found it very easy.
Yeah, I know.
Looks like Menendez has been a sleazeball for some time now.
I wonder if he and Hunter ever talked "business"?
It's hilarious that those defending this skid mark are the same people who have been shreiking that somebody else is guilty with less evidence.
So far no one here.
There are a few (so far).
Let us not forget that Menendez was against Obama's Iran deal. That was when Menendez had his first go around. He was lucky to walk away that time. This time the evidence seems overwhelming.
If he had, he would have learned it's a rookie mistake to deal in gold. True pros get their money wired to grandchildren through a series of offshore banking transactions.
In addition to the cash and gold, the indictment includes payments toward a home mortgage, compensation for a low-or-no-show job, a Mercedes and other things of value.
Or Clarence Thomas?
I doubt either Hunter or Menendez ever talked to each other about any member of SCOTUS.
Menendez obviously didn't learn any of the corruption tactics used by the Clintons and Bidens.
The Clintons and Bidens are in a different class. The mistake Menendez made was being against Obama's Iran deal, just as he was against Obama normalizing relations with Cuba or being against Biden's policy on Venezuela. The left of the democrat party is not shedding any tears over Menendez.
$150,000 worth of gold bars and $500,000 in cash found in his home. Holy shit......this guy is in it deep. This is how one avoids claiming money on their taxes. (Yes I am talking to a certain member who shall not be named that uses this excuse all the time for Joe.)
The Midas touch, touch, touch, touch
Touch, touch, touch, touch
Touch, touch, touch, touch
Every day it seems your life is up and down
And you say that you're lookin' for an answer
Everywhere you look, it seems you can't be found
Obviously babysitting money from the Feinsteins.
Stuffed in envelopes in the pockets of his jackets located in his closet, no less! And, the envelopes had the fingerprints of his "donor".
As I said, he's a special brand of stupid!
In his presser today, he claimed that the $500K cash in the pockets of his jackets were "income" from his 30 years of elected office.
I don't know about you, but I don't keep that much cash in my jacket pockets and I don't know anyone who does. That kind of money is invested for financial growth.
Damnnnn. This one looks bad. They found like thousands of dollars in cash at his house stuffed into envelopes. They even found gold bars. He has been up to some shit.
Looks that way. No doubt this is but one of many.
Menendez is certainly a special brand of stupid. He started his new foreign relations bribery schemes within months of being let off the hook by a hung jury.
Guess he thought he got away with it the first time, why not give it a go. You are correct. A special brand of stupid.
Isn't that brand generally called "The Biden Administration"?
Both family crime syndicates are eerily similar, although Menendez is expendable.
I'm curious if Menendez is the fall guy for the corruption that Joe is involved in.
We have seen the DOJ throw down indictments against Trump right after something negative came out about Joe, it looks like those indictments will probably go nowhere, especially the Bragg fuckups, so they have to find another scapegoat to take the left wing media attention away from the fuck up that is Joe Biden, .
A ' fall guy ' would not be a senior senator.
Ok let me clarify.
Since there are no more indictments against Trump coming immediately, someone has to take the heat of Joe.
Menendez is that person.
A 'fall guy' would not be a senior senator.
A 'fall guy' would be a lower operative.
Obviously there is a blockage in understanding what I wrote...then clarified, so I will try again in even simpler terms.
Biden did bad, deflect to Trump indictments x 4 times.
To keep Biden out of the bad news, deflect to Menendez, knowing the mainstream media will happily drop Biden bad and pick up Menendez worse.
Capiche?
Here is how partisan politics works.
If the desire is to keep Biden out of bad news, the deflection would be to a Republican, not to a senior D senator.
Your hypothesis is flawed.
Only blind partisans would see it that way. By your "logic", there should always be a republican deflected to if something negative comes out on Biden, even if there is no republican to deflect to.
It is delusional to think the Biden admin cares who is put into the spotlight to get Biden out of it.
"Your hypothesis is flawed."
Also delusional and hyper partisan to think this way.
A fine demonstration that you do not understand the concept of "blind partisanship".
That is all you got from my comment? You are way off on a limb.
First of all, political parties have demonstrated that it is quite easy for them to target a member of the opposition and focus attention on it. Have you noticed how the Rs have focused on Hunter Biden (not even a politician)? History shows your notion of "no republican to deflect to" is flawed (being nice).
Second, my logic is that a political party that wants to deflect attention away from one of their members (especially the PotUS) will target someone outside of their party. They do not want to make one D/R look bad to deflect away from another D/R who looks bad. They will, naturally, try to make one of the opposition look bad. As an example, a logical choice would be for the Ds to target McConnel (minority leader of the senate showing serious signs of cognitive problems).
Basic logic (and even just common sense).
Looks like you just toss out emotive words regardless of whether or not they make any sense whatsoever in the context. What a pathetic 'rebuttal'.
Oh, I, like many others, understand it perfectly. We see your demonstration of it daily.
"my logic"
Have you ever given consideration that your logic is flawed?
Looks like you just toss out emotive words regardless of whether or not they make any sense whatsoever in the context."
Funny how you use the same terms but believe that they are always used correctly.
Another flawed logic.
You wrote nothing more than a nuh'uh.
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So, I guess the Department of Justice actually does investigate and prosecute Democrats, as well as Republicans.
I'm quite sure they are more than happy to replace him with another democrat.
Murphy will readily comply if Menendez and his bagman wife are found guilty as charged. He has no other option.
Rumor has it that he already has 2 front runners picked out........Of course the driving force is historic firsts for New Jersey, no mention of actual qualifications.
Even a blind dog finds a bone every now and then.
Are you suggesting that DOJ didn’t know he was Democrat?
Nope!
If guilty, he should resign immediately.
His governor and other Democrats already said that without waiting for a guilty or innocent verdict. Maybe they know something that the rest of us don't know?
The balance of the Senate is at stake. The 2024 Senate race favors Republicans. The Senate right now is split.
The last thing democrats want is a stubborn Sen Menendez running against a Republican in 2024 with all this baggage.
Menendez, a senator, is expendable. Murphy will simply choose another Dem to take his place.
One the other hand, the presidency is certainly at stake. At least 30 Dems have already thrown Menendez under the bus without due process as a non-partisan "show" in order to maintain control of the Executive Branch.
Solid "gold" ...