Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., signaled Monday that he'll stay in workplace regardless of stress to resign after being indicted on corruption fees.Menendez was defiant as he delivered his first public remarks because the Sept. 22 indictment. He spoke in Union Station, New Jersey, the place he began his political profession 4 many years in the …
Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., signaled Monday that he’ll stay in workplace regardless of stress to resign after being indicted on corruption fees.
Menendez was defiant as he delivered his first public remarks because the Sept. 22 indictment. He spoke in Union Station, New Jersey, the place he began his political profession 4 many years in the past. He did not take any questions from the press.
“The whole lot I’ve completed I’ve labored for regardless of the naysayers and everybody who has underestimated me,” he mentioned. “I acknowledge this would be the largest battle but. However as I’ve said all through this complete course of, I firmly consider that when all of the info are offered, not solely will I be exonerated, however I nonetheless shall be New Jersey’s senior senator.”
Menendez and his spouse, Nadine, are accused of accepting a whole lot of hundreds of {dollars} of bribes in alternate for wielding his energy to complement three businessmen — Wael Hana, Jose Uribe and Fred Daides — and profit the Egyptian authorities. These bribes, in line with prosecutors, included gold bars, a luxurious convertible automobile, dwelling mortgage funds and extra.
Menendez has denied wrongdoing, stating Monday, “The allegations leveled in opposition to me are simply that: allegations.”
“A cornerstone of the inspiration of American democracy and our justice system is the precept that each one persons are presumed harmless till confirmed responsible. All individuals. I requested for nothing extra and deserve nothing much less,” the senator added.
Menendez additionally defended his longstanding file of defending human rights in Egypt in response to allegations within the indictment that he gave delicate U.S. authorities data “that secretly aided the Authorities of Egypt ” and “improperly suggested and pressured” a U.S. agricultural official to guard an unique contract for Hana to be the unique purveyor of halal meat to Egypt, in line with the indictment.
He additionally appeared to deal with the stunning pictures of piles of money that had been seen within the indictment. He defined it as an “quaint” security mechanism following persecution of his household in Cuba.
“For 30 years I’ve withdrawn hundreds of {dollars} in money from my private financial savings account which I’ve saved for emergencies and due to the historical past of my household going through confiscation in Cuba,” Menendez mentioned. “These had been monies drawn from my private financial savings account based mostly on the earnings I’ve lawfully derived over these 30 years. I stay up for addressing different points at trial.”
Senator Robert Menendez delivers remarks, after he and his spouse Nadine Menendez had been indicted on bribery offenses in reference to their corrupt relationship with three New Jersey businessmen, in Union Metropolis, N.J., Sept. 25, 2023.
Mike Segar/Reuters
Menendez has briefly stepped down from his influential put up as chair of the Senate Overseas Relations Committee, Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer introduced final week. Senate Democratic caucus guidelines state that any member who’s charged with a felony should step other than any management place.
However state management is looking for Menendez to go away Congress altogether.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and most of New Jersey’s Democratic Home delegation have urged him to resign. Murphy known as the allegations “deeply disturbing” and “so critical that they compromise the power of Sen. Menendez to successfully symbolize the individuals of our state.”
Menendez, who has served within the Senate since 2006, is up for reelection subsequent yr. Menendez has not but mentioned whether or not he’ll search one other time period in 2024. He ignored a shouted query from a reporter about whether or not he would on the conclusion of his remarks.
U.S. Rep. Andy Kim — a fellow New Jersey Democrat — introduced over the weekend will now run for his seat.
“After calls to resign, Senator Menendez mentioned ‘I’m not going wherever.’ Consequently, I really feel compelled to run in opposition to him,” Kim wrote in a social media put up. “Not one thing I anticipated to do, however NJ deserves higher. We can’t jeopardize the Senate or compromise our integrity.”
Although Menendez didn’t particularly identify any politician in his remarks, he appeared to take a shot at these utilizing the indictment to launch political campaigns.
“Keep in mind prosecutors are incorrect generally. Sadly I do know that,” Menendez mentioned. “As a substitute of ready for all of the info to be offered, others have rushed to take the chance for themselves or these round them.”
That is the second time Menendez has been charged with corruption. A 2015 indictment resulted in a mistrial in 2018 after a jury failed to achieve a verdict on all counts and a choose acquitted him on some fees.
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