Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) is continuing his crusade against Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), who is currently facing a series of charges related to bribery and other forms of corruption. Fetterman has been an ardent critic of Menendez ever since the indictments were handed down.
Now, Fetterman is introducing a measure intended to target Menendez and other lawmakers who happen to find themselves facing similar charges.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) is expected to force a vote on a resolution next week that would ban lawmakers who are indicted on national security matters from attending classified briefings.
The legislation is a response to Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), who was indicted on federal bribery charges in September last year. The Pennsylvania senator has been one of Menendez’s most vocal critics.
“We should have chucked that sleazeball long ago,” Fetterman told CNN of Menendez on Friday. “But now, we’re looking to move my resolution to the floor, and I’m going to call on unanimous consent so we can stop any senator that is being accused of being a foreign agent attending classified briefings.”
Democrats had been slow to criticize Menendez when he was indicted on federal bribery charges, but Fetterman was the first Democratic senator to call for Menendez to resign.
Menendez has been embroiled in a series of indictments suggesting that he used his influence as a senator to grant favors to various businessmen and the Egyptian government in exchange for cash, gold bars, and even a new car. He has also been accused of violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
Damien Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District, detailed the nature of the bribery offenses:
The indictment alleges that through that relationship, the senator and his wife accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars of bribes in exchange for Senator Menendez using his power and influence to protect and to enrich those businessmen and to benefit the government of Egypt. The indictment alleges that Hana, Uribe, and Daibes provided bribes in the form of cash, gold, home mortgage payments, a low show, or a no show job for Nadine Menendez, a Mercedes Benz, and other things of value to the senator and his wife.
Williams noted that as a senator, Menendez “cannot compel an agency to act in someone’s favor,” “influence matters involving a private business,” or “get involved in criminal matters or cases.” However, the U.S. Attorney’s Office alleges that Menendez “was doing those things for certain people.”
Sen. Menendez has denied the allegations.
Sen. Bob Menendez Issues Firm Denial of the Bribery Charges Against Him
The charges against the New Jersey senator speak to a deeper issue of national security. Granting access to sensitive information to such an individual could pose a serious risk. Critics might argue that the resolution runs afoul of the concept of “innocent until proven guilty.” Indeed, this is the reason other Democrats have cited for refusing to eject Menendez from the upper chamber.
However, this is not necessarily about convicting the lawmaker of a crime, it is about safeguarding national security. Those entrusted with sensitive information should be above reproach. Nevertheless, given how Fetterman’s colleagues have responded to the allegations against Menendez, it seems likely that they will vote down this resolution.
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