Posted on 03/06/2015 6:00:14 PM PST by Jim Robinson
A defiant Sen. Robert Menendez declared, “I am not going anywhere,” Friday night amid reports the Justice Department is preparing to charge the New Jersey Democrat with corruption counts over allegations he used his office to help a Democratic donor.
A person familiar with a federal investigation of Menendez told the Associated Press the Justice Department is expected to bring criminal charges against him in the coming weeks. The pending charges were first reported by CNN.
Menendez told a press conference about four hours after the reports surfaced that he had “always conducted myself appropriately and in accordance with the law.”
He added, “I fight for things I believe important…and for the people of our country. That’s who I am.
“I am not going anywhere.”
Menendez took no questions from reporters, saying that because of the “ongoing inquiry” he could not make any additional comments.
The Justice Department would not comment on the criminal charges report, although DOJ sources are not denying that charges may be coming.
Menendez' office did not confirm the reports, but defended the senator's conduct.
In a statement, the senator's spokeswoman Tricia Enright said: "As we have said before, we believe all of the Senator's actions have been appropriate and lawful and the facts will ultimately confirm that. Any actions taken by Senator Menendez or his office have been to appropriately address public policy issues and not for any other reason."
Attorney General Eric Holder also declined to comment on the case when asked by Fox News and President Obama ignored shouted questions by reporters as he left Marine One following a trip to South Carolina.
The case against the powerful lawmaker, two years in the making, comes at a sensitive time for Menendez -- and the Obama administration. Menendez has been a leading critic...
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
PopCorn Futures Jump!
Again!!
Excellent. Make it a very public fight please.
While Menendez will probably feel the full weight of prosecutorial hell, and without passing judgement on his guilt or innocence, I predict that the Democrats will be very sorry they went after him...
True.
Problem is that the DOJ went after Menendez after Menendez went after Obama's foreign policy.
It’s hard to fathom but I’m rooting for Menendez because I’m firmly on the side of anyone who can bring this DOJ and white house down.
Depends on what the meaning of “anywhere” is.
This has Valjar’s fingerprints all over it.
I hope that’s true, a Jersey pol is probably what you need against one from Chicago.
Washington Barbie says, "Working in Washington can be tough." LOL!
Democrats are between a rock and a hard place. Force him out and Christie appoints a Republican to fill the seat, increasing the GOP margin in the Senate. Keep Melendez in there and have all the dirty laundry aired during an election year.
Hang tough, Bob. Don’t let them force you out - hehe.
In NJ, a US Senate vacancy is filled by governor appointment until the next general election.
Can't they both lose?
He should join the GOP. He’d hardly notice any difference.
I was wondering how he could be so bold against the Obamaites when he had that cloud hanging over him.
In a real world with a real justice system they would.
She intends to destroy his reputation so any witness he bears against her will be ‘tainted’, in her opinion.
But we also have Judge Hanen’s issuance of arrest warrants over contempt of his injunction order.
Who knows? Menendez may have trapped the RATS with his underage hooker story. All I know is RATS all over are quivering, and that makes my heart glad.
That’ll teach you to piss off Captain Midnight, Bobbie.
Ides of March bttt
That said, this investigation wrapped up two years ago. The file sat gathering dust in Holders in-box until Menendez got uppity.
I really have no idea what motivated Menendez to open his mouth in criticism, but the one thing you can be sure of is that it had nothing to do with honor.
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