Former Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) decried his corruption case as a “political prosecution” and invoked President Trump’s authorized battles as proof of a crooked justice system after he was sentenced to 11 years in jail Wednesday.
“President Trump was right,” Menendez stated outdoors the New York federal courthouse. “This process is political, and it’s corrupted to the core. I hope President Trump cleans up the cesspool and restores the integrity to the system.”
The New Jersey Democrat was convicted of buying and selling bribes for political favors final yr. He resigned from the Senate quickly after, although his downfall started earlier when he was compelled to give up his highly effective submit as chair of the Senate International Relations Committee after the costs towards him have been revealed.
A New York jury discovered the ex-senator accepted lavish bribes from three businessmen and served as an agent of Egypt in change for his political clout. Menendez is the first-ever public official convicted of appearing as a overseas agent whereas in workplace.
“You were successful, powerful, you stood at the apex of our political system,” U.S. District Decide Sidney Stein stated whereas handing down Menendez’s sentence, in line with The Related Press. ”Someplace alongside the best way, and I don’t know when it was, you misplaced your approach and dealing for the general public good grew to become working in your good.”
Menendez’s remarks come as Trump’s Justice Division has moved to finish legal prosecutions of his political allies, together with a former Republican lawmaker; those that participated within the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol assault; and Trump’s co-defendants in his federal labeled paperwork case.
The ex-senator declined to reply questions from reporters about whether or not he’s in search of a pardon from Trump, who confronted his personal authorized troubles in Manhattan. The president has not commented on Menendez’s case and whether or not clemency could be within the playing cards.
Final yr, Trump was convicted in New York state court docket of 34 counts of falsifying enterprise data in reference to a hush cash cost made to an grownup movie actress to maintain quiet about their alleged affair forward of the 2016 presidential election.
The 2 politicians, from opposing events, have been on trial on the similar time.
Trump was sentenced earlier this month to an unconditional discharge, eschewing jail time whereas securing his standing as the primary particular person discovered responsible of a felony to imagine the presidency. He appealed his conviction Wednesday.
