Senator Bob Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey, attempted to use his family’s experiences in communist Cuba as training for any difficulties that may arise in order to defend his criminal charge.
“For 30 years, I have withdrawn thousands of dollars in cash from my personal savings account for emergencies and because of the history of my family facing confiscation in Cuba,” Menendez declared this as he inventoried a cache of gold bars and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash stashed away in garments, closets, and a safe. Menendez’s New Jersey home was earlier searched by federal investigators, who took pictures of what they claim to be evidence connected to bribery offered in exchange for Menendez applying political pressure to foreign officials to help a number of his campaign supporters.
WATCH:
“A cornerstone of the foundation of American democracy and our justice system is the principle that all people are presumed innocent until proven guilty,” he continued. “The court of public opinion is no substitute for our revered justice system. We cannot set aside the resumption of innocence for political expediency when the harm is irrevocable… Instead of waiting for all the facts to be presented, others have rushed to judgment because they see a political opportunity for themselves or those around them.”
WATCH:
Strong Democrat steps down from chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee amid accusations that she used her position to exert pressure on the Egyptian government on behalf of inexperienced halal food manufacturers in New Jersey.
“Remember, prosecutors get it wrong sometimes. Sadly I know that,” Sen. Menendez referred to his prior acquittal following comparable charges of wrongdoing. On allegations of bribery, fraud, and conspiracy in November 2017, the jury was deadlocked, and the court dropped several counts.
A challenge for Democrats as they work to keep control of the upper house comes with the upcoming elections. Menendez, who represents a firmly blue state, may prove to be a burden for his party, which is already having trouble funding the reelection campaigns of Joe Manchin (D-WV), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Jon Tester (D-MT).
REVEALED: The 3 reasons you should NEVER use Vegetable Oils…
The IRS may conduct more inquiry into Senator Menendez over potential tax fraud. In May, the IRS said that it will look into the New Jersey Democrat.
