When the U.S. Congress first convened on March 4, 1789, it met at Federal Hall in lower Manhattan.
New York was the first seat of the early United States government. A year later, Congress moved to Philadelphia.Lawmakers eventually dropped anchor in what is now Washington, DC.
However, given Congress’s recent actions in New York, some might think Congress was “lost in New York” this spring.
Start spreading the news. Many members of parliament will resign today. And Monday. And Tuesday. And Thursday. Many Republicans now regularly travel north to attend former President Trump’s trial in New York.
The federal corruption trial of Democratic New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez is also underway in Lower Manhattan’s Daniel P. Moynhan Federal Courthouse. It is named after the late New York Democratic Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. Menendez will likely be locked up there, with daily courtroom sessions from now until perhaps mid-July to hold his trial.
The government accuses Menendez of bidding the New Jersey businessman to favor Egypt and Qatar. Federal authorities also allege the senator obstructed justice against another Garden State businessman and sought lenient punishment in a separate criminal case. Prosecutors say they plan to show how Menendez and his wife received the Mercedes-Benz convertible for their actions.
From the Capitol to the courtroom: Bob Menendez doesn’t want to be distracted by shiny objects
File: Sen. Bob Menendez (DN.J.) listens before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)
Mercedes is nice. But in this case it’s the gold that really shines. Gold has been a theme in multiple James Bond movies. There was “Golden Eye”. “Goldfinger” was his 1964 hit. “The Man with the Golden Gun” appeared ten years after him. But if a jury convicts Menendez, he may earn a new title: “Senator with Gold Bars.”
Menendez allegedly obtained 13 gold bars in exchange for helping one of the businessmen secure access to a development project in Qatar. Government lawyers say they have evidence that Mr. Menendez Googled the price of gold.
If convicted, political observers could characterize the Menendez case as “From Qatar with Love.” And let’s not forget that seven years ago, Menendez was just on trial in an unrelated bribery case. The case ended in a hung jury. This is not “you only live twice”. If the jury is confused again, perhaps a better title would be “You’re Only Tried Twice.”
Similar things often happen in politics. But in this scenario, the New Jersey Democratic Party and Trump’s trials would be orthogonal.
From Moynihan Courthouse, go one block west on Worth Street and turn right. Arrive at 100 Center St. It is the home of Manhattan Criminal Court. That’s where former President Trump is on trial in the hush money case involving Stormy Daniels.
Thursday, May 16, 2024, attorneys for co-defendants Wael Hana and Fred Dives deliver opening statements in the federal corruption trial of Sen. Bob Menendez. (Bloomberg/Contributor)
Don’t be surprised if the former president’s trial overshadows Menendez’s case. The court hearing Mr. Trump’s case literally overshadows the building where the Menendez case is proceeding.
Like his neighbor Menendez, Trump attends every day the court is in session.
But consider the Republicans who have surfaced in Gotham. In addition to praising the former president, he also condemns President Biden, the U.S. judicial system, Judge Juan Machan, and many others.
On Monday, a cavalry of Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, R-Ohio, Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis of New York arrived to praise Mr. Trump.
On Tuesday, Rep. Cory Mills, R-Florida, and Byron Donald, R-Florida, participated in the roadshow.
On Thursday, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.), and Rep. Eli Crane (R-Va.) (Ariz.), Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Rep. Michael Walz (R-Florida) and Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, climb the Acela corridor and quickly support Trump in New York. He showed his attitude.
Jurors selected, opening statements begin in United States v. Menendez: ‘Please use your wise judgment’
But without a doubt, former President Trump’s star surrogate was House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana).
Regarding the former president’s trial, Johnson said, “I wanted to come here myself and make a statement about what a travesty of justice is.” “I’m speaking outside because the court doesn’t allow me to speak inside the building. That’s just one of the many things that are wrong here.”
Johnson is Speaker of the House. Officials under Article 1 of the Constitution. However, the court will decide on Article 3.
President Trump will address the media on May 13th. (Photo credit: SETH WENIG/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Johnson’s appearance included multiple goals. First, it was an extension of the speaker’s stop at Mar-a-Lago several weeks earlier to tout election integrity alongside President Trump. Second, Mr. Johnson seeks to continue to enjoy the maximum benefits of an unstable former president. Let’s not forget that Mr. Johnson survived an ouster attempt last week by Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia. Even though Mr Johnson has retained his chairmanship, there are certainly some conservative factions who are disappointed with him.
They oppose spending deals he struck with Democrats, his efforts to restart a controversial foreign espionage operation that sometimes wipes out intelligence on Americans, and his Ukraine aid bill. So it’s certain that Mr. Johnson is trying to flex his MAGA sincerely.
But from another perspective, this is about political stability for Mr. Johnson and Republicans in Congress.
Trump will likely be the party’s nominee in the fall. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) will not lead the Republican Party next year, whether in the majority or minority. McConnell currently supports the former president. But there’s no love lost between the Kentucky Republican and Trump. The only reason Johnson survived Greene’s attempts to oust him was because of Democratic votes. It’s not optimal. But it breaks through the chaos. Part of Mr Johnson’s strategy is therefore to maintain party unity.
And as long as Mr. Johnson and Mr. Trump are on the same page, it will help Mr. Johnson retain his chairmanship. If Mr. Johnson disappears, Republicans will face great difficulty in choosing a speaker next year – even if they have a majority.
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Truman Capote wrote, “I love New York, even if it’s not mine.”
New York is not necessarily a state with these representatives. New York is the center of the universe. It’s not the center of politics.
But for now, the political center of gravity appears to be shifting north from Washington, D.C., as these high-profile trials unfold just meters from each other in Manhattan.
