Sen. Bob Menendez speaks throughout a press convention on Monday, Sept. 25, 2023, in Union Metropolis, N.J.
By Deepti Hajela and Mike Catalini | Related Press
UNION CITY, N.J. — Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey defiantly pushed again in opposition to federal corruption expenses on Monday, saying practically half 1,000,000 {dollars} in money authorities present in his residence was from his private financial savings, not from bribes, and was readily available for emergencies.
Rejecting rising requires him to resign, he mentioned he believed that he’d be cleared.
“I acknowledge this would be the largest struggle but, however as I’ve said all through this complete course of, I firmly imagine that when all of the info are introduced, not solely will I be exonerated, however I nonetheless would be the New Jersey’s senior senator,” Menendez mentioned at Hudson County Group Faculty’s campus in Union Metropolis, the place he grew up.
He didn’t reply to questions and didn’t tackle whether or not he’ll search reelection subsequent yr.
Addressing allegations within the indictment unsealed Friday that authorities discovered money stuffed in envelopes and clothes at his residence, Menendez mentioned that stemmed his mother and father worry of confiscation of funds from their time in Cuba.
“This will appear quaint, however these had been monies drawn from my private financial savings account based mostly on the earnings that I’ve lawfully derived over these 30 years,” he mentioned.
He additionally addressed his relationship with Egypt, which performs a central function within the indictment in opposition to him, suggesting he’s been robust on the nation over its detention of Individuals and different “human rights abuses.”
“For those who take a look at my actions associated to Egypt throughout the interval described on this indictment and all through my complete profession, my report is obvious and constant in holding Egypt accountable,” he mentioned.
Prosecutors say he met with Egyptian navy and intelligence officers, handed alongside private details about workers on the U.S. Embassy in Cairo and ghostwrote a letter on behalf of Egypt asking his Senate colleagues to launch a maintain on $300 million price of help. He didn’t straight tackle these allegations Monday.
The state’s Democratic management, together with Gov. Phil Murphy, the state occasion chairmen and leaders of the Legislature, together with a few of Menendez’s congressional colleagues, are calling on him to resign
In Washington, nevertheless, the place his occasion holds a naked Senate majority, a few of Menendez’s Democratic colleagues have stopped wanting urging him to surrender his seat, notably Majority Chief Chuck Schumer, of New York, and Majority Whip Dick Durbin, of Illinois.
Menendez did, nevertheless, step down as required because the influential chairman of the Senate Overseas Relations Committee, Schumer mentioned on Friday, when the indictment was unsealed.
If he seeks reelection, Menendez will face no less than one challenger in a main subsequent yr after Democratic Rep. Andy Kim introduced over the weekend that he’ll run for the Senate due to the fees in opposition to the state’s senior senator.
Menendez’s reelection marketing campaign may face important hurdles moreover the felony indictment, the second he has confronted in eight years, in mild of opposition from state occasion leaders.
If the Democratic Occasion abandons Menendez, he may lose a potent advantage of occasion assist: the so-called occasion line, or most well-liked poll placement within the main, broadly thought to be a major booster to incumbents and people with institution backing.
Menendez has denied any wrongdoing within the federal case in opposition to him, his spouse and three of their enterprise associates. In an emailed assertion final week, he accused prosecutors of misrepresenting “the traditional work of a congressional workplace” and mentioned he won’t enable his work within the Senate to be distracted by “baseless allegations.” A lawyer for his spouse mentioned she “denies any felony conduct and can vigorously contest these expenses in court docket.”
He and his spouse, Nadine Menendez, are accused of accepting a whole lot of hundreds of {dollars} in money, gold and a luxurious automobile from a trio of New Jersey businessmen for a wide range of corrupt acts.
The indictment mentioned Menendez used his clout to intervene in three felony circumstances, pressured U.S. agriculture regulators to guard an affiliate’s enterprise pursuits, and used his place as chairman of the Overseas Relations Committee to affect U.S. coverage on Egypt.
Federal brokers who searched his residence in 2022 discovered greater than $480,00 in money stuffed into envelopes and hidden in clothes, closets and a protected, and gold bars price greater than $100,000, prosecutors mentioned. One other $70,000 was found inside his spouse’s security deposit field, they mentioned.
Catalini reported from Trenton.
