New Jersey Sen. Menendez Denies Wrongdoing, Vows To Stay In Congress

Topline

New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez maintained his innocence and said he would not resign following a federal indictment on bribery charges, as he spoke publicly for the first time Monday at a press conference amid growing calls for the three-term senator to resign.

Menendez was indicted on criminal bribery charges Friday.

AP/Andrew Harnik

Key Facts

Menendez acknowledged how serious the allegations brought against him last week were and described the impending battle against the charges as the “biggest fight yet.”

He asked for the presumption of innocence until he is proven guilty and claimed some politicians were setting aside that presumption for “political expediency.”

Menendez said people are rushing to judge based on a limited set of facts “framed by the prosecution to be as salacious as possible,” adding that “prosecutors get it wrong.”

He also addressed some of the specific claims prosecutors made when they announced charges, including the large sums of cash found in Menendez’s home, saying that for 30 years he has withdrawn cash from his personal savings account based on income he lawfully earned.

Crucial Quote

“I firmly believe that when all the facts are presented, not only will I be exonerated, but I still will be New Jersey’s senior senator,” Menendez said at the press conference.

Chief Critics

The bipartisan list of elected officials, at the New Jersey and national level, calling for Menendez to step down has grown since charges were announced Friday. Over the weekend, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) called the allegations against the New Jersey senator “very damaging,” The Hill reported. Meanwhile, New Jersey Reps. Mikie Sherrill and Andy Kim both called for Menendez to step aside, with Kim also announcing he will make a run for Menendez’s seat in 2024. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) made similar pleas. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said the facts of the case were “so serious that they compromise the ability of Senator Menendez to effectively represent the people of our state,” and called on Menendez to resign. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Penn.) has been the only Democratic Senator to join the calls for Menendez’s resignation.

Key Background

On Friday, prosecutors in the Southern District of New York accused Menendez of maintaining a “corrupt relationship” with three New Jersey businessmen who bribed him and his wife. Fred Daibes, Will Hana and Jose Uribe allegedly bribed Menendez with gold, money, a luxury car and home mortgage payments in exchange for “series of official acts and breaches of official duty. Both Menendez and his wife, Nadine Menendez, face three counts including conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right and conspiracy to commit honest services fraud.

Tangent

In 2015, Menendez was indicted in New Jersey on federal charges that he allegedly accepted bribes, campaign contributions and bribes for official favors. He was acquitted three years later of some charges and had the rest dismissed by the Department of Justice following a request from prosecutors.