Posted on 04/02/2015 12:27:24 PM PDT by Theoria
For high-profile politicians who are indicted by federal prosecutors, theres something akin to stages of grief. First comes shock, then anger, defiance and, sometimes, after juries convict and judges are ready to impose a sentence, a bit of contrition.
Having been on notice for months that his mutually beneficial friendship with a wealthy Florida doctor was the subject of a corruption probe, Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey blew right past the state of shock on Wednesday, after authorities unveiled a 68-page indictment.
For nearly three years Ive lived under a Justice Department cloud and today I am outraged that this cloud has not been lifted, an indignant Mr. Menendez told a crowd of supporters in Newark.
Outrage is fitting in this case for anyone who reads the indictment. It meticulously documents a brazen pattern of gifts and favors exchanged by Mr. Menendez, one of the most powerful Democrats in Washington, and Dr. Salomon Melgen, a Dominican-born eye surgeon who invested heavily in Mr. Menendezs political career and was never shy about calling in favors.
Mr. Menendez argues that all the back-scratching was not criminal, but rather what good friends are supposed to do for each other. Hes certainly entitled to make that case to a jury. Considering the breadth and nature of the allegations, though, its hard to imagine that he will have enough time to adequately represent his constituents while he braces for a legal fight that could drag on for years.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
In the immediate past(pre-2014 elections) I would have been delighted to have the possible opportunity to add onto the Republican side of the Senate. Now it just leaves me with fear and trepidation knowing party lines are not just blurred , they have been totally wiped out. Except for a very,very few conservatives the Senate is filled with people that would never again be elected if we deviated towards a third party system
"Mr. Menendez has a history of ethical lapses that have been all too common for Democratic officials in New Jersey, especially for those, like him, who continue to take an active part in local party politics. If re-elected, the senator should make it clear he is giving up any role in the Hudson County Democratic organization... Our unqualified endorsement goes to Robert Menendez."
Usually, I have to Photoshop a gathering of corrupt Democrats, but not in New Jersey. We're that thick with them.
Im calling BS. Yes, Menendez is a creepy corrupt dork like every Democrap, but he’s only being thrown under the bus because he’s made a ruckus about Iran. This is the bill Gwatny treatment.
Everyone knows if a real Justice Department were around, EVERY SINGLE DAMN rat would be in prison!
You know Christie VERY well, Leonard-San.
Zero would appoint Ted Cruz U.S. Attorney General before Tub O’Guts would appoint Steve Lonegan to the Senate seat.
Don’t think he will leave gracefully without getting a BIG payoff!
Most likely he will go to jail, and keep his job by voting by proxy.
If Christie puts in a Dem he might as well stick a knife in his own back.
It'll be a Kean or a Whitman or some other leftwing sop, and the Democrats will scream bloody murder like he appointed the Lord Grand Overlord Marshall of the Tea Party.
Then Christie will get that fat kid befuddled face when he's under attack from the left when all he was trying to do was be nice to them.
ne gangof 8 down 7 more to go.
And a few republicans
I agree (and wrote “won’t happen”) but I wish it could happen. Lonegan would be a huge improvement.
He’ll probably put up another worthless hack seatwarmer like Jeff Chiesa (if he doesn’t appoint him again). Mustn’t appoint someone who could actually win the seat.
Name the party of Hudson County politicians convicted of corruption charges http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2015/04/hudson_county_politics_convicted_of_corruption_cha.html
The Jersey Journal doesn’t.
What liberal, communist, or gay initiative did he oppose????
I knew there was something.
Thank you, New York Times, for remaining consistently corrupt and venal.
You scared me for a second.
There is a zero% chance Christie would appoint a democrat. Zero.
But if he appoints another loser placeholder who won’t run in the special election, that would be pretty much the same thing.
It’s been suggested he’d seek the seat himself if he intends to pass on a WH run.
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