WWTBAM Bored

The U.S. Department of Justice has just indicted Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) on federal charges of public corruption. The indictment was not unexpected it was reported the DOJ was putting together a case weeks ago.

At the time, Sen. Menendez denied all wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, the right wing media and even Republican lawmakers claimed the upcoming indictment was payback for the New Jersey Senator's refusal to give Attorney General nominee Loretta Lynch a "yes" vote.

"After a more than two-year investigation," the Washington Post today reports, "Menendez faces charges for what prosecutors believe were improper efforts by Menendez to help Salomon Melgen, a Florida-based doctor who was also a contributor to Menendez’s campaigns and his longtime friend. Menendez intervened on Melgen’s behalf in a dispute with the federal regulators over Medicare charges and in a bid by Melgen to secure a port security contract in the Dominican Republic."

If the charges are true, Menendez joins a notorious list of New Jersey Democrats.

In 2002, Senator Torricelli dropped out of his re-election race at the last minute, in scandal.

In 2004, Governor McGreevey resigned in scandal.

In 2010, former Senator and Governor Corzine became CEO of a multinational finance company. In less than two years, the company lost billions and went bankrupt.

The New Jersey Democratic Party rivals the one in Illinois for corruption.

So if a corporation does what Salomon Melgen supposedly did it's legal but if an individual does the exact same things it's illegal?

BackInTex wrote:And in other news Lois Lerner walks

Apples and grapes, not even oranges.

After a long trial ended with a hung jury, the government has decided against a second trial, so Menendez walks.

jarnon wrote:After a long trial ended with a hung jury, the government has decided against a second trial, so Menendez walks.

In between, the judge acquitted Senator Menendez on six of the counts pending against him. The Justice Department attributes its decision to that judgment and to evidentiary rulings that the judge made.

The jury was reportedly split 10-2 in favor of acquittal. --Bob

The Senate Ethics Committee has issued a strong public admonishment to Senator Menendez. --Bob

Bob78164 wrote:The Senate Ethics Committee has issued a strong public admonishment to Senator Menendez. --Bob

That will teach him!