There’s no denying that ruling class politicians get to live by a different set of rules than the rest of the country.
There are times in which they do get caught with their hands in the cookie jar though.
And now this disgraced Democrat facing over 220 years in prison is begging Joe Biden for a pardon.
New Jersey corruption
New Jersey has a sad, long history of having corrupt politicians on both sides of the aisle.
Who could forget former New Jersey RINO Governor Chris Christie shutting down toll booths on the George Washington Bridge as political retribution against the city of Fort Lee’s Democrat Mayor for not supporting him.
New Jersey had the only U.S. Senator to be convicted in the FBIs Abscam investigation.
But Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) just raised the bar for taking bribes in office.
He was indicted by the Federal Government on 14 counts of corruption, as he is alleged to have received gifts, including gold bars, for doing favors for one of his largest donors.
His legal problems have only escalated, and now the probe includes indictments for taking bribes from people outside the United State.
Menendez was the former chair of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, and was certainly in position to grant significant favors.
He held up $100 million in taxpayer funding meant to provide tanks for Egypt – it’s not like Americans need that money – until they agreed to purchase meat from one of Mendez’ friends.
He was eventually found guilty of 16 counts of taking bribes from business interests in Egypt and Qatar.
Some of the charges involve working as a foreign agent, and he will be sentenced in October, when the 70-year-old Democrat Senator could face up to 222 years in prison.
Replacement is Already Announced
New Jersey Democrat Governor Phil Murphy has already announced that Menedez will be replaced by George Hemley for what is only expected to be a short term as the seat was already up for election this year.
The trial took two months, and the whole bribery scandal was exposed as businesses showed how they had to make payments in order to get government contracts.
On one project, Menedez used his influence to help get a project in Egypt, while he used his position as a Senator to stop an investigation into an insurance fraud case in another case.
When the FBI raided his home, they found hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and gold bars – Menedez claimed he only had it because he had a fear of going without.
The business people offering the bribes were also charged.
The insurance fraud case executive flipped and became a government witness, but also pleaded guilty to some charges.
He agreed to give Menedez’ wife, who allegedly acted as the go-between in the transactions, a Mercedes convertible in exchange for help.
That apparently is where things fell apart.
She married her husband in her 50s, and wasn’t part of the interworking of Mendez’ business dealings.
She caused a great deal of drama in the Democrat Senator’s life by hanging out with reality stars in New Jersey, including “Mob Boss Wives.”
After the conviction Menedez started losing support, even amongst his fellow Democrats.
“I reiterate my call for Senator Menendez to resign immediately after being found guilty of endangering national security and the integrity of our criminal justice system,” Governor Murphy said. “If he refuses to vacate his office, I call on the U.S. Senate to vote to expel.”
As of Tuesday, he has resigned, and is now pleading with his old pal, Joe Biden to bail him out with a pardon.
But with his political support already gone this is seeming like a long shot.
US Political Daily will keep you updated on any developments to this ongoing story.
