U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) may be facing federal bribery charges but he could be in the clear as far as keeping his job with the top two Senate Democrats appearing to have his back.
On Sunday, Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) who serves as the Senate Majority Whip appeared on CNN where he declined to call for his corrupt colleague to step down over his indictment in a foreign political influence-peddling scheme involving shady businessmen and Egypt.
The senior senator for Illinois joined anchor Dana Bash on “State of the Union” where the Menendez issue was the first topic on her plate, pressing Durbin on whether Menendez should resign as numerous Democrat officials in his home state of New Jersey have called for.
(Video: CNN)
“This is a very serious charge, there’s no question about it. But it bears reminding us of what I’ve said about the indictments against Donald Trump, equally serious charges,” Durbin said. “These are, in fact, indictments that have to be proven. Under the rule of law, a person who is accused is entitled to the presumption of innocence. And it’s the responsibility of the government to prove that case.”
“I said that about Donald Trump. I’ll say the same thing about Bob Menendez,” a rare take from a Democrat, a party that in recent years has shown nothing but contempt for the presumption of innocence.
After noting that Menendez has stepped down as head of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a position once held by President Joe Biden when he was a member of the Senate, Durbin said “In terms of resignation, that’s a decision to be made by Senator Menendez and the people of New Jersey.”
“A lot of Democrats I’m sure you’ve seen, agree with you, that he does deserve the presumption of innocence in a court of law,” Bash said. “But particularly those in his home state of New Jersey, they say that the detailed evidence in this indictment says that he doesn’t belong in the U.S. Senate. Do you disagree?”
Durbin responded, “Well keep in mind that these are charges and they have to be proven and there is a presumption of innocence. How far it goes in terms of his future service is something to be decided by the senator and the people of New Jersey.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) not only didn’t call for Menendez to do the honorable thing and resign but actually praised him as a “dedicated public servant” who is “always fighting hard for the people of New Jersey” in remarks after the news broke on Friday.
Former President Donald J. Trump had a much different opinion about Menendez as well as Durbin, Schumer, and the rest of the Democrats in the Senate and he expressed it in a sledgehammer of a Truth Social post on Sunday.
“Senate Democrats should all resign based on Senator Bob Menendez! They all knew what was going on, and the way he lived. Why doesn’t the FBI raid Senate Democrat’s homes like they illegally raided Mar-a-Lago, where nothing was done wrong based on the Presidential Records Act. Menendez is a ‘piker’ compared to some of those Election Stealing THUGS. Can you imagine how much Crooked Joe Biden has stolen, and what’s in some of his many homes?” Trump wrote.
(Screenshot: Truth Social)
“The FBI and ‘Justice’ notified him that they would be going in to look, ‘in a few weeks.’ In other words, get rid of the cash, gold, & documents, ASAP, before we get there. They didn’t give me any warning, they just showed up. Hunter lived with Crooked Joe in Delaware. It would be a ‘Treasure Hunt!’ Crooked’s coffers must be loaded up with cash,” the GOP frontrunner added. “I wonder how much they got paid for Rigging the Election? Menendez is one of many, a small timer at that. EVERY DEMOCRAT SHOULD RESIGN FROM THE SENATE! Our Border’s are Broken, our Election’s are Rigged. MAGA!”
For now, the lone Senate Democrat with any integrity is the upper chamber’s resident slob, Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.) who noted that while Menendez is entitled to the presumption of innocence, he has forfeited the right to exert influence over national policy.
Senator Menendez should resign.
He’s entitled to the presumption of innocence, but he cannot continue to wield influence over national policy, especially given the serious and specific nature of the allegations.
I hope he chooses an honorable exit and focuses on his trial.
— Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) September 23, 2023
“Senator Menendez should resign,” Fetterman – or more likely, a staffer – wrote on X. “He’s entitled to the presumption of innocence, but he cannot continue to wield influence over national policy, especially given the serious and specific nature of the allegations. I hope he chooses an honorable exit and focuses on his trial.”
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