As we reported, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) was found guilty Tuesday on 18 counts for accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars of bribes in cash and gold bars. It didn’t take long for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to demand his resignation:
In light of this guilty verdict, Senator Menendez must now do what is right for his constituents, the Senate, and our country, and resign.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) July 16, 2024
Menendez, however, despite facing potentially decades behind bars, was defiant when talking to reporters after the verdict came down.
The three-term Democrat ignored questions from reporters about whether he planned to resign from the Senate outside Manhattan federal court Tuesday afternoon — as he insisted “I have never violated my public oath.”
Menendez, 70, was found guilty on 18 counts for accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars of bribes in cash and gold bars, while leveraging his committee post to enrich three wealthy New Jersey businessmen and the Egyptian and Qatari governments.
He now faces decades in prison after having evaded earlier federal corruption charges in 2017, when a jury deadlocked and failed to convict him of wrongdoing for accepting private jet rides and expense-free vacations from a Palm Beach, Fla., doctor.
“I’m deeply, deeply disappointed by the jury’s decision,” Menendez said when addressing reporters outside the court after the verdict. “I have every faith that the law and the facts are not sustained with that decision, and that we will be successful upon appeal.”
Watch:
Democrat Senator Bob Menendez speaks after his guilty verdict for bribery and corruption:
— Proud Elephant 🇺🇸🦅 (@ProudElephantUS) July 16, 2024
“I’m deeply, deeply disappointed.”pic.twitter.com/2UmS0gdU0B
N.J. Gov. Phil Murphy agreed with Schumer and said that Menendez had "betrayed his oath of office."
Today's verdict finding Senator Bob Menendez guilty on 16 counts demonstrates that the Senator broke the law, violated the trust of his constituents, and betrayed his oath of office.
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) July 16, 2024
In America, everyone – no matter how powerful – is accountable to our laws. pic.twitter.com/ljJrQFB2eu
More "Gold Bar" Bob
BREAKING: Verdict Reached in Sen. Bob Menendez Trial
Gold Bars, Jewelry, Cash Stashed in a Boot: Sen. Bob Menendez's Home Looked Like a Pawn Shop Safe
Bob Menendez Poised to Throw Wife Under the Bus With 'She Did It!' Defense in Bribery Trial
It's unclear whether Menendez's political career can survive after this latest scandal. Even though he was under major criminal indictment—which has now resulted in a guilty verdict—Menendez nevertheless announced in June that he would run again as an independent in November's election. His chances didn't look good then, but they really don't look good now, and that's if he is even able to somehow continue in his campaign.
Meanwhile, his wife Nadine was also scheduled to be put on trial for bribery and corruption later this year, but due to her battle with breast cancer, the judge on Tuesday postponed the action against her.
There will presumably be more developments of the Bob Menendez saga, and RedState will bring them to you as they occur.
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