Menendez, Defiant, Says He Will Not Resign

[Polybius]

Source: NY Times

Senator Robert Menendez, Democrat of New Jersey, returned Monday to Union City, the community where he rose to political prominence, to offer a clear answer to former allies who have called for his resignation in the face of federal bribery charges: No.

“The allegations leveled against me are just that — allegations,” Mr. Menendez said at a news conference at a community college not far from where he grew up, the child of Cuban refugees.

“I recognize that this will be the biggest fight yet,” he said, adding that once the judicial process concluded, he expected that “not only will I be exonerated, I will still be New Jersey’s senior senator.”

Speaking first in English and then in Spanish, Mr. Menendez, 69, reiterated much of the message he offered immediately after the indictment was announced. He said he was confident the case would be resolved favorably, and he urged patience “to allow all the facts to be presented.”

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/25/nyregion/menendez-bribery-charges.html

[pandr32]

1. The bad ones don't want to leave.

They are in positions that advantage them. Even when they are exposed they have no incentive to leave, because if they cared for doing the right thing they wouldn't be doing what they do in the first place.

[Ocelot II]

2. Yeah, he's presumed innocent *when he goes before a jury,* but

he's got a lotta splainin' to do. Gold bars? Seriously? Voters aren't bound by the presumption of innocence, and IMO he is not an honorable person.

[Walleye]

3. Exactly.

[grumpyduck]

4. Well, he seems to be taking a page from tfg's playbook.

[agingdem]

19. He's probably guilty as hell but..

I am so tired of playing nice...doing the right thing...if they go low we go high..Menendez gave up his chairmanship, he'll get his ass primaried and kicked...let him stay...let's watch the MAGA assholes go fucking bonkers...their guy is a 91 count/4 federal indictments/tax cheat/sexual predator/racist/antisemite/national security threat/insurrectionist/stochastic terrorist ..and then there's the multi-indicted mega-liar George Santos, subpoena ignoring sexual abuse denying traitor Jim Jordan, sex trafficker and traitor Matt Gaetz...and the list goes on...

Dems piled on Al Franken and forced him to resign...let this one play out

[forgotmylogin]

35. Make the repubs do the work.

No more easy-mode self-resignation by Democrats!

[agingdem]

39. That's right!

no more sacrificing our own...

[mitch96]

38. Also the Santos playbook. nt

[montanacowboy]

5. I always stuff cash and gold bars

into my clothing, doesn't everyone? This guy is a crook and has been a crook.

[brush]

6. If Menendez is innocent, ok, but come on. Those gold bars...

and 450k in cash seems to be a lot of evidence of corruption. I mean who has that much cash stashed away if you're not hiding it, as banks have to report transaction in cash of 10k (I heard it's really more like $6,500)... and if you keep doing it, you get an inquiry from authorities.

So how the hell did Menendez have 450k in cash stashed in his house legally?

After years in the Senate and representing New Jersey (sorry Jerseyites, but the state is long-known for corrupt pols), he should have enough by now to live on without clinging to that Senate seat and tainting the Democratic Party while giving the repugs even more corruption accusations to go after the Biden admin.

[former9thward]

17. I don't think Menendez is innocent and he should resign.

But the gold and cash are not evidence by themselves. I have gold, silver and substantial cash in secure non-bank locations. I think others do also.

[oldsoftie]

23. What do you consider a secure non-bank location?

I've thought of that myself but could never come up with anything I thought suitable.

[brush]

25. Right. Reports are they found envelopes stuffed with cash...

in suits in his closet, and in other places in his house.

Sure doesn't sound legal to me.

[former9thward]

33. We are not really anonymous.

People can find out who is posting. For that reason I will decline to answer you.

[oldsoftie]

34. Totally understand.

[brush]

24. With interest rates as high as they are now I don't see...

the financial sense in leaving big sums of cash in a safe in one's home.

That 450k Menendez had stashed would generate around $15-1600.00 a month in an easily researched high interest bank account nowadays...every month.

So why do that if it's above board.

You earn no interest on cash stashed at your house.

Another thing, if one does deposit that much cash, you're going to get inquiries from authorities as to where you got the cash, which is why drug dealers and others in illegal activities keep large sums of cash stashed in various places...they can't put it in the bank.

[former9thward]

30. Most of my liquid assets are in banks or brokerages.

But I don't blindly trust institutions. You and others may differ and more power to you. I sleep comfortably with my decisions about assets.

[brush]

37. FDIC insures bank deposits. Why lose out on interest accumulation since you trust some banks.

Menendez got indicted by the way.

[ImNotGod]

7. If it weren't for the fingerprints of the briber all over the loot he may get away with it. I know

someone who hordes gold. Lives in a run down home, cluttered yard yet has hundreds of thousands of $$$ in gold stashed away so that part of the story isn't that hard to believe.

[oldsoftie]

22. Probably thinks he'll be able to buy food with the gold if SHTF

But gold is 2000 an oz right NOW. Imagine what it would be if something big DID happen? You gonna buy food with a sheet of 250 grain sandpaper to sand off a few GRAINS?

[former9thward]

32. You make good points but gold and to a lessor extent silver have been used for 1000s of years.

They have always found a willing trading partner no matter the circumstances.

[oldsoftie]

42. In THIS age I'd go with silver if I was holding any "precious metals"

Silver is 30-40 bucks an oz. Easy to use that measuremt. Of course you'd find someone willing to take gold. The problem will be how to make sure you're not giving TOO much if its 4,000 an OZ!
But as a storage of capital, SHTF notwithstanding, nothing beats real estate.

[Beachnutt]

8. Bob and Nadine

[twodogsbarking]

13. Notice the look on the face of the female guard.

[Frasier Balzov]

9. How can he campaign for reelection effectively?

Isn't he on the ballot next year?

[Cannonpointer]

12. 2024 term

His term expires 2024. Not sure if he had planned to run, but this throws a whole wrench in the works.

[NNadir]

20. Andy Kim has already announced primarying him, and will wipe the floor with him.

If he is decent enough to resign, despite the denials today, we have many excellent candidates for Governor Murphy to appoint.

[BumRushDaShow]

26. I hope someone is lined up for Kim's seat

because I remember when he first ran in the 3rd district, that district was pretty solid Republican although was getting swing. I did see that they redistricted in 2020 so it is more a solid blue. This is wild-looking -

[NNadir]

29. Well, in 2000, the best Congressperson I ever had, Dr. Rush Holt, nearly lost in the 12th district.

Happily, the district was made "safe" by incorporating parts of Trenton and he was reelected repeatedly until he retired.

He went off to lead the AAAS, so I'm not sure he's still in New Jersey, and he's in his late 60s now, but if Menendez is ultimately convinced to get his corrupt ass out of the way, Phil Murphy could do far worse than appointing Dr. Holt to the seat, at least until 2024.

It's an honor Dr. Holt deserves for having been one of the finest Congress people ever in my view, not that anyone cares what I think.

I'm also very fond of State Senator Andrew Zwicker, although I'd hate to lose him as our host on Science on Saturday at PPPL.

I'm bigoted in favor of scientist/legislators.

A rare refuge in smileys:

[BumRushDaShow]

31. "I'm bigoted in favor of scientist/legislators. "

LOL well NJ has New & North Brunswick, home of big pharma so...

[Orrex]

10. If he plays his cards right, this might qualify him for the Republican presidential ballot

[The Unmitigated Gall]

11. Fuck this guy. He needs to go.

"Biggest fight yet"...yeah. To come up with some fake excuse for hundreds of thousands in cash plus gold bullion piled in his house.

This is the Democratic Party, not the Shithole Clarence Party.

[LiberalFighter]

14. Doesn't look good for him.

[werdna]

15. And yet, Where the unindicted Sen. Al Franken was concerned -

"Senator Franken should resign. I consider Senator Franken a dear friend and greatly respect his accomplishments, but he has a higher obligation to his constituents and the Senate, and he should step down immediately."

[Ponietz]

28. Only a scumbag would say that and not himself resign after Federal indictment

[dem4decades]

16. I heard him play the "They're after me because I'm Hispanic" card today. Fuck him.

[oldsoftie]

21. Yes, I saw that too.

[NNadir]

18. Asshole.

[The Grand Illuminist]

27. Quick work needs to be done.

He is becoming a liability.

[FakeNoose]

36. I believe Nancy Pelosi would have handled this issue with aplomb

Whether Hakeem Jeffries is up to the task, we'll soon see.

[bahboo]

40. he's a senator....

[Oopsie Daisy]

41. 🙄