Cruz: Menendez probe politically motivated

The Hill ^ | 03/07/2015 | Jonathan Easley

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) suggested Saturday that the Justice Department’s criminal corruption charges against Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) are political retribution against the New Jersey Democrat for opposing the White House’s negotiations with Iran.

Cruz made the allegations to a throng of reporters jammed into the corner of a tent outside the Iowa Ag Summit in Des Moines without even having been asked about the Menendez criminal charges.

 

“The announcement this week by the Justice Department that they were bringing charges against Bob Menendez — I will point out that the timing seems awfully coincidental that … in the very week that Bob Menendez showed incredible courage to speak out and call out President Obama for the damage that his policy is doing to our national security … the Justice Department announces they’re moving forward with the criminal prosecution,” Cruz said.

 

“It raises the suggestion to other Democrats that if you dare part from the Obama White House, that criminal prosecutions will be used potentially as a political weapon against you as well,” he added.

Menendez has been a vocal critic of the White House as the Obama administration has sought to wrap up delicate talks with Iranian leaders over the future of their nuclear program.

 

The issue came to a head on Capitol Hill last week when Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu rebuked the Obama administration in front of Congress for its strategy on Iran.

 

On Friday, news broke that the Justice Department was preparing to bring criminal charges against Menendez.

 

“The timing is curious,” Cruz continued. “This investigation has been going on for over a year and yet the very week they announce a pending indictment comes within hours after Sen. Menendez showing courage to speak out against President Obama’s dangerous foreign policy that is risking the national security of this country.”

[Stepan12]

No Democrat will return the favor when Cruz is unfairly attacked. Not even Menendez

That is part of the reason I would like to see a Cruz presidency. As for natural born citzenry? What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander!

[Old Yeller]

Goes right in line with Congress and a certain member of the Supreme Court blackmailed into submission.

[Enterprise]

Here's a scenario that won't happen, but it's fun to imagine.

Strike one: Reid sees Menendez as a loyal player and does not want him taken down. Reid knows that this is a political prosecution so he and McConnell, Boehner, and Pelosi have a little chat. Low and behold, out of the blue, the Keystone bill is suddenly passed with veto proof numbers in the House and Senate. Obama vetoes it, and in short order, his veto is overridden by the House and Senate.

Strike two: Obama continues being a jerk, and suddenly, out of the blue, the Senate impeaches, convicts and removes Holder from office and he is sent to prison.

Strike three: Obama is told that he's next.

[Pining_4_TX]

Wow, I can’t believe how conservatives are jumping to support Mendendez. Not only is he a crook, but he is a pedophile as well! I don’t care who or what brings him down, he is evil and the fact that he is still in the Senate shows how far this country has fallen.

BTW, Menendez backed away from the bill that Republicans were pushing on the Iran deal, so he was backing Obama at that point.

The only reason the weasel Menendez supports anything or anyone is money. He gets a lot of campaign cash from supporters of Israel, and if that disappeared, so would his support.

The man should have been jailed long ago.

[napscoordinator]

Cruz NEVER should have stuck up for this Democrat. McCain does this too. Must be a Senate thing.......always speak positive of the friends across the aisle.