Amid mounting requires his resignation, Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) held a press convention on Monday morning, asserting that he’s harmless till confirmed responsible and asking his colleagues in Congress and in New Jersey to not rush to judgment.
“The cornerstone of the inspiration of American democracy and our judicial system is the precept that every one individuals are harmless till confirmed responsible,” Menendez mentioned. “All folks. I ask for no extra and deserve no much less. The court docket of public opinion is not any substitute for our venerable judicial system.”
He additionally took difficulty with the rising record of lawmakers who’ve referred to as on him to resign from workplace, saying they “rushed to judgment as a result of they see a political alternative for themselves or these round them.”
“All I humbly ask at this second, of my colleagues in Congress, the elected leaders and New Jersey advocates — with whom I’ve labored for years — in addition to everybody who calls New Jersey house, is to pause and permit all of the details to be offered,” Menendez mentioned.
On Friday — the day Menendez’s indictment was unsealed — a number of New Jersey Democrats — together with Reps. Andy Kim and Mickey Sherrill (D-N.J.) and Gov. Phil Murphy — publicly referred to as for the senator’s resignation. If Menendez steps down, it might open a aggressive race amongst New Jersey Democrats eyeing his seat, together with members of the state’s congressional delegation who’ve been fast to name for him to step down.
Menendez faces three prices within the federal indictment in Manhattan. The senator and his spouse, Nadine, are accused of taking gold bullion, furnishings, a Mercedes-Benz convertible, cash and different providers from three New Jersey businessmen in change for official enterprise, in response to the indictment.
These official actions allegedly included transferring delicate authorities data to the Egyptian authorities, and making an attempt to thwart state and federal legal investigations into his associates, amongst different issues.
Throughout his remarks, Menendez additionally tried to clarify elements of the accusations in opposition to him, saying he “withdrew hundreds of {dollars} in money” from his “private financial savings account” over the previous three many years “due to his historical past.” Household faces confiscation in Cuba.
“Now this will likely appear old style, however this cash was withdrawn from my private financial savings account based mostly on the revenue I earned legally over these 30 years,” Menendez mentioned earlier than itemizing a number of of the preferred legal guidelines — from the Inexpensive Care Act to infrastructure invoice — which he had a hand in passing over time, “I stay up for addressing the opposite points at trial.”
Menendez didn’t take questions.
