MSNBC’s leftist host Mehdi Hasan shredded Sen. Bob Menendez’s “ludicrous claim” that he had done nothing wrong following the DOJ’s charging him with bribery on Friday.

(Video Credit: MSNBC)

The 39-page federal indictment charged the New Jersey Democrat, his wife Nadine, and three business associates, Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, and Fred Daibes, with being involved in a pay-to-play scheme that involved a ton of money, gold, a luxury car, mortgage payments, and more.

Menendez is facing three criminal counts involving corruption. The complaint accuses the Democrat and his wife of accepting cash, gold bars, a Mercedes, and other valuable items in exchange for political influence peddling that involved increasing US aid to Egypt as well as helping out the three New Jersey businessmen. The indictment also includes an alleged attempt to intervene in a criminal case for a business associate.

Hasan went through the indictment on Friday’s segment of “All In,” laying out its high points. Investigators claim to have found almost $500,000 in a home safe and stuffed in the pockets of Menedez’s suit coats. Some of the cash was in envelopes with the senator’s name on them. They also reportedly found DNA and fingerprints that connect one of the business associates to the money.

All of that was found when a search warrant was executed in 2022 at the couple’s home. Hasan also focused on the gold bars and the fact that Menendez reportedly performed Internet searches on the value of the gold.

Dem Sen Menendez and wife indicted for bribery; DOJ seizes gold bars, ‘hidden’ cash from home https://t.co/uMizK2jZ4P via @BIZPACReview

— BPR based (@DumpstrFireNews) September 22, 2023

Oh man, the Menendez corruption/bribery allegations relate to a halal certification company https://t.co/35a8OCazgN

— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) September 22, 2023

“And they recovered several gold bars,” Hasan pointed out. “Yes, gold bars worth over $100,000. Prosecutors say that Menendez, at one point even Googled, and I quote, ‘kilo of gold price.’ So, Menendez and his wife are now facing three federal charges of conspiracy for bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right.”

“Of course, they are innocent until proven guilty, and they will get their day in court. In a statement today, the senator denied the allegations, calling them ‘baseless.’ He also attacked the ‘excesses’ of these prosecutors, who he says have misrepresented the normal work of a congressional office,” he continued.

“Now, putting aside the potential criminality – the alleged criminality [aside] here for a second, that is a ludicrous claim. Does Senator Menendez really think that Americans will buy that it is normal work for a United States senator to basically do the bidding of a foreign government?” Hasan asked in a rare moment of honest candor.

New Jersey Democrats and Republicans are clamoring for Menendez to resign. The senator steadfastly claims he is innocent and refuses to grant their demand. However, he was forced, due to the indictment, to step down as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee but he still remains on the panel.

In a defiant statement, Menendez alluded to some sort of conspiracy against him, asserting that “those behind this campaign simply cannot accept that a first-generation Latino American from humble beginnings could rise to be a U.S. Senator and serve with honor and distinction.”

Best part of this statement is Menendez’s claim to be standing up to dictators when the indictment alleges he was helping out the Egyptian dictatorship. https://t.co/kU7k4kYBnq

— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) September 22, 2023

This is the second time that Menendez has been indicted on corruption charges. He was also charged with bribery, fraud, and making false statements back in 2017 according to The New York Times. That ended in a mistrial when the jury could not reach a verdict. He may not be so lucky concerning these latest charges.

If convicted this time around, Menendez could get 45 years in prison.

Hasan’s calling out Menendez is curious since his daughter, Alicia Menendez, is reportedly a host on MSNBC.

Get the latest BPR news delivered free to your inbox daily. SIGN UP HERE

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.