You have to give Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) credit for his blanket condemnation of Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), who has been hit with three indictments involving a foreign bribery scandal.
Menendez pleaded not guilty on Monday to 12 new felony charges alleging he tried to obstruct a federal investigation into bribery allegations, with prosecutors alleging that he led his lawyers to provide false information to investigators, CNN reported.
When CNN reporter Manu Raju asked about Menendez’s defiant refusal to resign, Fetterman said it was “clear that my colleagues want to keep him around.”
Bob Menendez defiant after third indictment and tells me “no” he will NOT resign
Asked if he will run for reelection, he said: “That’s a different question.”Fetterman calls Menendez a “sleazeball” pic.twitter.com/vENVDptlTj
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) March 7, 2024
“And now we have his trial in less than two months and that’s going to handle it,” the Democrat added.
In a follow up, Raju asked, “What does it say about this institution that he’s still serving in here?”
“I don’t know what it says other than that they’re just okay with having a sleazeball in the Senate,” Fetterman replied.
Menendez and his wife are accused of taking bribes of gold bars, cash, and a luxury car in return for the senator’s help in projects pursued by three New Jersey businessmen, according to the Associated Press. The Egyptian government reportedly also benefitted from the arrangement.
Menendez, who faced corruption charges in 2015 that were ultimately dropped, was forced to step down as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in September when he was indicted on corruption charges. Still, he has defiantly refused to resign.
As seen in the clip above, Menendez brushed off a question about resigning after the latest round of charges.
When asked about running for reelection, he said that’s a different question before arrogantly adding, “When I decide, then everyone will know.”
The online responses to the story have been a mixed bag… here’s a quick sampling, as seen on X:
We cannot be hypocrites. Menendez is BY FAR the most corrupt Democrat.
We cannot have him smearing our party like this… we need to demand MENENDEZ resign NOW!
— No Dem Left Behind (@NoDemLeftBehind) March 7, 2024
Manu, could you remind @chuckschumer how he pressured Franken out of the senate? And how he did that in a much shorter timeframe, without a shred of seriously scrutinized evidence?
— lml (@MediaLitish) March 7, 2024
Why is @SenatorMenendez still walking through the halls of Congress? He should be removed from office, just as former representative George Santos was. @SenSchumer, please do something about it.
— Joshua P. Cohen (@JoshuaPCohen1) March 7, 2024
We all know that the Justice Department doesn’t prosecute senators (or former presidents) on a whim. The evidence against Menendez is solid.
But Fetterman…sheesh. He’s acting like a Ted Cruz, a Rand Paul.
Have a little self respect, man.
— Attorney Corporal of Texas (@kelleyryberg1) March 7, 2024
I am sorry, but he needs to resign..if you are not guilty, fight it, but do not fight it from the cover of a US senate office.
— Serendipity (@SerendipityinFl) March 7, 2024
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Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
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