Posted on 08/09/2017 8:32:48 PM PDT by bobsunshine
A last-ditch attempt by Democratic senator Bob Menendez (N.J.) to avoid a federal corruption trial slated to start next month was rejected by a federal judge on Wednesday.
Menendez, accused of giving political favors to Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen in exchange for campaign contributions and gifts, asked that the case against him be dismissed on account of the Supreme Court's 2016 decision to overturn the corruption conviction of former Virginia governor Bob McDonnell (R.).
Menendez's attorneys argued that none of the alleged assistance he offered Melgen were "official acts," and therefore, based on the Supreme Court's McDonnell decision, the legal argument against him was invalid.
U.S. District Court Judge William Walls said the determination of whether Menendez performed an "official act" in his attempts to benefit Melgen will be made during the trial, which is set to begin on Sept. 6.
"Whether the acts alleged in the Superseding Indictment satisfy the definition of an ‘official act’ under McDonnell is a factual determination that cannot be resolved before the Government has the opportunity to present evidence at trial," wrote Walls in his rejection of the dismissal request.
Menendez received campaign contributions from Melgen, in addition to flights on private jets and luxury vacations.
(Excerpt) Read more at freebeacon.com ...
Oh happy days! I detest Menendez. The private vacations that he and his sleazy pal took were to places where they could abuse underage prostitutes. That he is still a senator is a black mark on our country. He should be in prison for numerous crimes.
Dang - he just got the re-election boost he needed ...
The headline got it right and the first sentence got it wrong.
There is nothing democratIC about Menendez. He’s a RAT. Period.
This all relates to my ongoing effort to get Harry Reid indicted. They are all part of the Deep State cabal
McDonnell was reversed based on bad jury instructions and SCOTUS didn’t rule on “official acts” but sent it back for retrial on that.
Justice decided not to retry on the “official acts”.
I think Menendez has a better shot at lack of official acts citing sun-diamond. ( gave Mike Espy dough. ) It was the sun-diamond decision that got Espy off on the Tyson Food decision. Espy was guilty as sin and free as a bird.
“Oh happy days! I detest Menendez.”
I do too, but say he’s convicted and has to give up his Senate seat. What you will get is a younger, more vital RAT since it’s New Jersey, the state where New York dumps its waste.
Well, well, I guess the Jersey RAT Party had better dust off their old “Lautencorpse Switcheroo Program” and run it by the New Jersey “Supreme” Court just for $hits and giggles. Any bets on who the 11th hour replacement for Menendez is going to be?
Menendez is corrupt and despicable. However he went against Barack Obama on some issues. Thus he is no loner a protected species in he Demonicrat party.
Glad to see you are still on Dirty Hairy Reid’s case.
He’s one who needs to pay the piper
Keep on keeping on!
Three + years to get to the court phase.. pathetic.
hope to delay resignation until a Democrat Gov in January?
Is Robert "The Torch" Torrecelli still alive? Maybe he could fill-in. /s
He’s using the “other kids do it, why can’t I” excuse that never worked with my parents.
But even if he is kicked out of office, being that this is the PRNJ, he will be replaced with someone worse.
Fuggetaboutit.
I suppose everyone has a price for selling oneself, but I’m surprised at the cheap purchase price for Menendez.
If I’m going to risk time in prison, I’ll want to brag to my cellmate that it was for at least several millions.
If he resigns in a pled deal, Christie could appoint himself as replacement.
Christie would be better than anything or anyone the Democrats would offer.
Menendez will not resign until he is carted off to prison (unless he has a visit by the men/ladies in gray suits who have decided he is a drag on their party). Christie will appoint the replacement, presumably a Republican.
Yeah...make sure you throw John McPain into that pile.... I believe he was turned while he was in that commie prison camp back in Nam....
NJ Dem Voters would vote for Hitler on the Dem ticket. Low information, scary stupid.
“Christie will appoint the replacement, presumably a Republican.”
Only if Menendez resigns before next January 16th. You really think he’d do that? The NJ RATs will move heaven and earth to make sure Christie is gone before Menendez.
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