Robert Menendez began his career as a crusading reformer who ran as a candidate of the GOP-funded Alliance Civic Association which put him in the mayor’s chair in Union City and the state Assembly. A Cuban who has always been basically a conservative Republican on foreign policy he’s been a member of Congress since 1992, by which time he had already gone all in on corruption as the political boss of Hudson County.
On Tuesday he was convicted of all charges against him in a bribery, fraud and extortion case— “in a sweeping scheme to sell his office to foreign powers and crooked businessmen in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, a luxury car and bars of solid gold.” He plans to appeal the verdict.
Democrats who were once some of Senator Robert Menendez’s closest allies sent a swift and blunt message to him on Tuesday after jurors’ resounding decision to convict him of 16 corruption counts: resign.
Minutes after the verdict was announced, Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic majority leader, broke the silence he had maintained since Menendez was indicted in September.
The The leaders of the bipartisan Senate Ethics Committee issued a statement saying they would take up an investigation into Senator Menendez. “The committee will consider the full range of disciplinary actions,” they wrote.
The committee can recommend censure or expulsion of sitting lawmakers. If the Senate ultimately moves toward expelling Menendez, the panel could play an important role.
…Federal prosecutors said the plot began in February 2018, less than a month after Menendez, a Democrat, was cleared of charges tied to an unrelated federal corruption case in New Jersey.
Assuming that Menendez does not immediately resign, his fellow senators will face some immediate questions. Do they allow a member convicted of acting as a foreign agent continue to serve on committees and receive intelligence briefings? Will they call for an expulsion vote?
I’ve never believed in giving an elected official a break for having been a “public servant” when they are found guilty of criminal behavior. I’ve always felt an extra category should be added too their crimes— violating the public trust, which should double their sentences. Public servants are entrusted with significant power and resources to serve the interests of the people. When they commit crimes, especially those involving corruption, they betray this trust. This betrayal undermines the very foundation of democracy, as it erodes confidence in governmental institutions and processes. Accountability ensures that the public trust is preserved and that citizens believe in the integrity of their representatives. Despite a what you might believe from watching the grotesquely corrupt American Supreme Court, a fundamental principle of justice is that no one is above the law, regardless of their position or status. If elected officials are given lenient sentences for their crimes, it creates a two-tiered justice system where the elite can evade full accountability, while ordinary citizens face harsher consequences. This disparity is fundamentally unjust and perpetuates systemic inequality. Harsh sentences for corrupt officials serve as a deterrent to others who might be tempted to engage in similar behavior, sending a clear message that corruption and abuse of power will not be tolerated and will be met with severe consequences. At least in theory, this helps to maintain a higher standard of ethics and integrity among public officials.
pelo$i earns 9 figures on her back and provides a nice ROI. how is this guy worse?
We are an embarrassment to the world. What the USA has become with The Orange Menace, the Republican Party and the Supreme Court is shameful and beyond dangerous. Our only hope is this election.