Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) took to the Senate ground 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 expenses are centered round issues which are regular observe in Congress.
The Democrat senator, according to 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 prohibited isn’t solely mistaken as a matter of legislation, it’s harmful to the essential work all of us as senators do,” Menendez stated.
“Below the federal government’s idea, it might be a criminal offense for members of the senate to make introductions to corporations and constituents in their very own state, to foster funding of their state,” he added.
Menendez: I’m Being Focused For Doing What Everyone Else Does
Senator Menendez was initially indicted on bribery expenses again in September. In keeping with prosecutors, he and his spouse allegedly obtained bribes together with money, gold, luxurious autos and holidays, mortgage funds and different types of compensation, in alternate for enriching a number of New Jersey businessmen.
A search of the senator’s house yielded more 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 not less than 4 of the gold bars situated in Menendez’s house had been linked to a 2013 robbery.
Menendez then obtained one other cost within the case for allegedly conspiring to act as a foreign agent on behalf of Egypt.
This was adopted by a federal indictment final week alleging that he took bribes in alternate 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 ground.
“After 50 years of public service, this isn’t how I needed to have a good time my golden jubilee,” he stated as he fought again tears.
RELATED: Democrat Senator Bob Menendez Charged With Conspiracy To Act As A Foreign 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 stated 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 one of the best curiosity of america and its allies.
“I’ve by no means violated the general public belief,” he stated. “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 really defended Menendez amidst calls from his personal Democrat colleagues to resign, noting that the New Jersey senator has a right to due process.
Menendez has lengthy been wrapped up in controversies, having escaped corruption charges because of a hung jury in 2017.
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