Menendez Corruption Trial Set for May 6
A federal judge on Monday scheduled the trial of Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and his wife Nadine on bribery and corruption charges to begin May 6, 2024, CNBC reports.
Old School Bribery
Charlie Sykes: “There’s something almost nostalgic about reading the indictment against New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez. By which I mean clownishly nostalgic, because it’s a throwback to an age when our corrupt politicians were old-school crooks, and frankly, rather stupid. There are no seven-levels of separation influence-peddling, no elaborate shell-companies or conspiracies.”
“What we have here, ladies and gentlemen, is a throwback — a house full of gold bars, envelopes stuffed with cash ($480,000), and a shiny new Mercedes parked in the garage. A slightly modern twist: DNA linking all of this boodle to the guys who paid cash for their own U.S. senator.”
Menendez Says Cash in Envelopes Was for Emergencies
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) “defiantly pushed back against federal corruption charges and the erosion of Democratic support in his home state Monday, saying cash authorities found in his home was from his savings account and on hand for emergencies,” the AP reports.
Said Menendez: “Now, this may seem old-fashioned, but these were moneys drawn from my personal savings account based on the income that I have lawfully derived over those 30 years.”
Bob Menendez Hires Same Lawyer as Hunter Biden
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) has tapped Abbe Lowell, the same attorney defending Hunter Biden against his tax and firearm charges, to represent him in his federal bribery case, Law 360 reports.
New Jersey Democrats Mull Cutting Menendez Loose
“The explosive indictment of Sen. Bob Menendez has forced an urgent decision on New Jersey Democrats: Stick with a powerful senator who’s survived corruption ordeals before and is known for punishing disloyalty, or cut their losses and protect what should be a safe Democratic seat,” Politico reports.
“A year before Menendez is up for reelection, they’re leaning hard towards the latter.”
“While Democrats stay publicly silent, interviews with half a dozen well-placed Democratic operatives, advisers and staffers show a party stunned by the level of alleged corruption and hard-pressed to imagine a scenario in which the party backs Menendez for another term. But the fact that no one was willing to criticize him on the record in the face of such damning allegations may be reason to question whether state Democrats will ultimately force a reckoning with Menendez over his political future.”
Menendez Indicted
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and his wife have been indicted on charges of bribery.
CNBC: “The indictment says that the Democrat Menendez and his wife from at least 2018 through 2022 accepted ‘hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for using Menendez’s power and influence as Senator’ to benefit the men and Egypt.”
“Those bribes included cash, gold, payments toward a home mortgage, compensation for a low-or-no-show job, a luxury vehicle, and other things of value.”
New York Times: “The indictment is almost certain to resound in Washington and in New Jersey.”
Feds Investigating Gold Bars Given to Menendez
“Federal prosecutors are looking into whether an admitted felon helped arrange to give gold bars worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez or his wife in exchange for help,” NBC New York reports.
Prosecutors Weigh Charges Against Bob Menendez
“The Justice Department is weighing possible charges against Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) after a yearslong public-corruption probe,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“Prosecutors are expected to meet with his lawyers in the coming weeks ahead of a final decision.”
“The probe in part has examined whether he or his wife, Nadine Arslanian, received gifts in exchange for political favors… Prosecutors also have investigated the circumstances surrounding a lucrative contract that a New Jersey businessman secured with Egyptian officials for certifying halal meat exports.”
Federal Grand Jury Probing Ken Paxton’s Ties to Developer
“Federal prosecutors have seated a grand jury in San Antonio and called witnesses close to suspended Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to testify,” the Austin American Statesman reports.
“The purpose of the testimony is unclear, but it comes days after Paxton’s attorney confirmed last week that there is an active federal investigation of his client. Federal investigators began looking into Paxton in October 2020 following a report by top aides alleging that Paxton misused his position as the state’s top lawyer to assist a campaign donor, Austin real estate developer Nate Paul, then the target of a separate FBI probe.”
L.A. City Councilman Charged with Embezzlement
“Los Angeles City Councilmember Curren Price was charged with 10 counts of embezzlement, perjury and conflict of interest on Tuesday, becoming the latest in a years-long parade of elected city officials to face public corruption allegations from state or federal prosecutors,” the Los Angeles Times reports.
Menendez Met Businessman Under Scrutiny in Probe
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) “hosted a 2018 meeting in his Washington, D.C., office with a New Jersey businessman who is a focus of a federal public-corruption probe of the Democratic lawmaker that has broadened in recent weeks,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
Prosecutors Move to Dismiss Andrew Gillum Indictment
“Federal prosecutors in the Andrew Gillum corruption case are moving to dismiss charges against the former Tallahassee mayor and Democratic gubernatorial nominee and his political mentor,” the Tallahassee Democrat reports.
“The acquittal, partial mistrial and outright dismissal marked a major defeat for the government and its long-running and costly Operation Capital Currency investigation, which saw undercover FBI agents posing as crooked developers descend on Tallahassee starting in 2015.”
Criminal Probe Into Bob Menendez Expands
“Another round of federal grand jury subpoenas went out this week in connection with the corruption investigation into Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey,” NBC News reports.
“Two sources familiar with the matter said at least one powerful New Jersey politician — North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco — was among those who received subpoenas.”
Justices Throw Out Ex-Cuomo Aide’s Corruption Conviction
“The Supreme Court on Thursday narrowed the scope of a federal anticorruption law by ruling in favor of an ex-aide to former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo who was convicted of taking a bribe from a real estate developer,” the NBC News reports.
“The court in a 9-0 vote threw out Joseph Percoco’s conviction for accepting the $35,000 payment when managing Cuomo’s re-election campaign in 2014.”
“The court ruled that his conduct was not covered by the federal law that requires that ‘honest services’ be provided to the public. Percoco was not working for the government at the time, so he had no duty to provide honest services.”
Local Official Spent Public Money on a Wildebeest
A local official in Ohio “used public money to buy kayaks, hot tubs, a popcorn cart, a drum set, a snow cone machine, a CPR manikin, two snow owls and a wildebeest,” the Columbus Dispatch reports.
“Cy Vierstra was sentenced to 59 months in prison after pleading guilty to theft in office, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, tampering with records and other charges. He was also ordered to pay back $340,000.”
Andrew Gillum’s Corruption Trial Begins
Failed Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum (D) goes on trial today for corruption, the Tampa Bay Times reports.
“The jury trial should provide an unusual glimpse into a federal political corruption investigation, featuring potentially hours of secret recordings involving Gillum and his brother, Marcus, and testimony from undercover FBI agents.”
“Gillum has denied the allegations against him. But the federal corruption probe that led to charges against Gillum has already led to convictions against another former Tallahassee mayor and a local developer.”
Ex-Michigan Speaker Admits He Took Bribes
Former Michigan Speaker Rick Johnson (R) “admitted to taking more than $110,000 in bribes to help businesses get medical marijuana licenses, according to a plea agreement filed in federal court,” CNN reports.
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