(UnitedVoice.com) – The US Attorney for the Southern District of New York announced charges against Senator Robert “Bob” Menendez (D-NJ) on September 22. The senator’s wife, Nadine Menendez, was also charged with several crimes. A prominent Democratic congresswoman and several others have called on the lawmaker to resign.
The Menendezes are charged with allegedly accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from three New Jersey businessmen. According to SDNY, the senator is accused of agreeing to pressure a senior US official with the Department of Agriculture to take action that could help one of the businessmen in Egypt. The couple had more than $480,000 in cash in their home, hidden in clothing, a safe, and closets.
During an interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) — also known as AOC — said she thinks the senator should resign. She called the allegations “extremely serious” and said she thought it “was in the best interest” for the senator to leave his position in Congress. She went on to say “consistency matters” and it “shouldn’t matter” what party he belongs to.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (D) and several members of the state’s congressional delegation called on him to resign. Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) and Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman (D) also called for him to step down. Menendez has said he will not resign and claimed he’s a victim of bias as a Latino.
The charges against Menendez might feel like déjà vu to some political watchers. That’s because it’s not the first time the lawmaker has been in trouble. In 2015, the Department of Justice indicted the senator on bribery, fraud, and conspiracy charges. He was accused of using his office to benefit a wealthy businessman, who was later found guilty.
The Democratic lawmaker’s trial ended in a hung jury and the DOJ, under former President Donald Trump, declined to try him again. When he was indicted on those charges, he also resisted calls to resign at that time.
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