Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) took to the Senate flooring on Tuesday to handle the allegations of corruption in opposition to him. In a fiery speech, he defended himself and denied any wrongdoing.
Menendez additionally dragged his colleagues into the fray with out naming anyone particularly, suggesting the bribery costs are centered round issues which might be regular observe in Congress.
The Democrat senator, based on Axios, claimed that “he was being indicted for issues many senators do throughout legislative and diplomatic processes.”
“The suggestion that an introduction of a constituent to a Qatari funding firm is against the law will not be solely incorrect as a matter of legislation, it’s harmful to the vital work all of us as senators do,” Menendez mentioned.
“Underneath the federal government’s principle, it might be against the law for members of the senate to make introductions to firms and constituents in their very own state, to foster funding of their state,” he added.
Menendez: I’m Being Focused For Doing What All people Else Does
Senator Menendez was initially indicted on bribery costs again in September. In line with prosecutors, he and his spouse allegedly obtained bribes together with money, gold, luxurious automobiles and holidays, mortgage funds and different types of compensation, in change for enriching a number of New Jersey businessmen.
A search of the senator’s dwelling yielded greater than $480,000 in money – a few of it in envelopes stuffed right into a jacket along with his identify on it – gold bars, and a Mercedes.
A subsequent report signifies that a minimum of 4 of the gold bars positioned in Menendez’s dwelling had been linked to a 2013 theft.
Menendez then obtained one other cost within the case for allegedly conspiring to behave as a overseas agent on behalf of Egypt.
This was adopted by a federal indictment final week alleging that he took bribes in change for serving to the federal government of Qatar.
Senator Menendez delivered a passionate protection of his actions, typically rising emotional throughout his speech on the Senate flooring.
“After 50 years of public service, this isn’t how I needed to have fun my golden jubilee,” he mentioned as he fought again tears.
RELATED: Democrat Senator Bob Menendez Charged With Conspiracy To Act As A International Agent For Egypt
Do Many Senators Have Gold Bars In Their Closet?
Throughout his speech, Senator Menendez insisted that he had by no means obtained something from the Qatari authorities and criticized the relentless marketing campaign by prosecutors to get him to resign. He mentioned that he has by no means violated the general public belief and is completely harmless of the costs.
Menendez emphasised that he has at all times acted in the most effective curiosity of the USA and its allies.
“I’ve by no means violated the general public belief,” he mentioned. “I’ve been a patriot for and of my nation.”
Menendez’s assertion that “he was being indicted for issues many senators do” is a outstanding admission of the issue. It shouldn’t be a “regular” course of to complement companies and overseas entities whereas enriching your self, culminating with a stash of gold bars in your mattress. Allegedly.
A number of Senate Republicans have truly defended Menendez amidst calls from his personal Democrat colleagues to resign, noting that the New Jersey senator has a proper to due course of.
Menendez has lengthy been wrapped up in controversies, having escaped corruption costs because of a hung jury in 2017.
What do you consider this? Tell us within the feedback part.
Now’s the time to help and share the sources you belief.
The Political Insider ranks #3 on Feedspot’s “100 Greatest Political Blogs and Web sites.”
