Sen. Robert ‘Bob’ Menendez (D-NJ) and his wife could face years behind bars following a recent federal indictment for bribery.
Federal prosecutors recently announced the charges against the New Jersey senator and his wife six years after a criminal case put the senator in a deadlocked jury, according to Breitbart News.
The latest indictment is unrelated to the charges Menendez faced in 2017, which alleged that he accepted expensive gifts on behalf of a Florida doctor to pressure government officials. It is, rather, related to the senator’s alleged acceptance of gold bars in exchange for his help in a criminal case surrounding the Egyptian government.
The latest indictment against Menendez marks the first time in U.S. history that a sitting senator has been indicted on two unrelated criminal allegations, according to Breitbart News.
As one would assume, Menendez has denied any wrongdoing in the matter. In April 2023, the New Jersey senator told CNN, “This inquiry will end up, I believe, in absolutely nothing.”
“A press event will be held today at 11:00 a.m. to announce the unsealing of an indictment charging Robert Menendez, U.S. Senator from New Jersey, and his wife, Nadine Menendez, with bribery offenses in connection with their corrupt relationship with three New Jersey businessmen,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York wrote.
A press event will be held today at 11:00 a.m. to announce the unsealing of an indictment charging Robert Menendez, U.S. Senator from New Jersey, and his wife, Nadine Menendez, with bribery offenses in connection with their corrupt relationship with three New Jersey businessmen. pic.twitter.com/CLTXnU0mAm
— US Attorney SDNY (@SDNYnews) September 22, 2023
The latest indictment against Menendez revolves around his alleged “transferring” of sensitive U.S. federal documents in exchange for the secured contract of a food producer based in New Jersey.
“Menendez provided sensitive U.S. Government information and took other steps that secretly aided the Government of Egypt,” the indictment reads.
Menendez currently serves as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Given the charges he faces, it is likely that he will soon resign from his position, according to RedState.
If the New Jersey senator were to resign, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D-NJ) would be tasked with finding a replacement for him, which, presumably, would just be another Democrat. An election to fill the Senate seat would then take place during the 2024 election.
Notably, Republicans came close to winning the gubernatorial election in 2021, with Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli winning 48% of the vote and Murphy securing 51.2% of the vote. Given this, it would not be impossible for Republicans to evict Murphy from the governor’s mansion and elect a Republican to the Senate in New Jersey.
