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This Time, Menendez Guilty

Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) was found guilty on 16 counts related to his acceptance of bribes in the form of gold bars, cash, mortgage payments and a Mercedes.

In October, NLPC filed a complaint with the Senate Ethics Committee asking that it seek Menendez’ expulsion, arguing that it was not necessary to wait for a conviction.

“It’s now time for the U.S. Senate to expel this convicted felon if Senator Menendez refuses to resign,” said Paul Kamenar, counsel to NLPC who filed the complaint.

Menendez could face decades behind bars but under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, he more likely will receive 42 months when he is sentenced. Although we welcome the conviction yesterday, the Menendez saga has been long and frustrating for NLPC. Menendez should have been incarcerated years ago.

In April 2015, Menendez was indicted on multiple counts of corruption, along with Dr. Salomon Melgen, his largest campaign contributor.

Several criminal counts related to a port security deal in the Dominican Republic that was exposed by NLPC through a front-page New York Times story on February 1, 2013. Menendez used his official position to push a contract that would have resulted in a “highly lucrative windfall” for Melgen. NLPC provided information to the Times on an exclusive basis, apparently prompting prosecutors to act.

Menendez would beat the rap in 2018 when the Justice Department chose not to retry him after his first trial in 2017 ended in a hung jury.

photo credit: AP

 

 

 

 

 

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Tags: Robert Menedez, Salomon Melgen