Embattled Sen. Bob Menendez remains flush with campaign cash, even as he has burned through about $2 million while fighting charges in court and considering a possible unopposed reelection to the Senate.
Menendez’s (D-N.J.) campaign organization raised about $19,632 between the beginning of April and May 15 and had $3.57 million in cash on hand after spending $2.1 million. According to Thursday’s filing. and the Federal Election Commission.
His largest expenditure during the period was $2 million for “legal services” to the law firm Paul Hastings. Menendez had $5.67 million in cash during the period, according to filings.
Revenues came from more than a dozen donors and included interest income from several banks.
Menendez announced in March that he would not seek a fourth term in the Senate as a Democrat, but left open the possibility of running as an independent if he was found “not guilty” of federal corruption charges.
The Garden State Democrat faces 18 criminal charges of corruption, bribery and acting as a foreign agent for Egypt and Qatar.
Menendez and his wife are accused of accepting gold bars, a Mercedes-Benz convertible and other gifts from three New Jersey businessmen in exchange for political favors.
He has pleaded not guilty and the trial is ongoing. Last week, his lawyers launched a unique defense strategy by blaming his wife, Nadine.
“Where did you find the gold bars? [The] “The gold bars were found in a locked closet. Nadine’s closet,” Menendez’s attorney, Avi Weitzman, said in opening statements last week.
Nadine was initially scheduled to stand trial alongside her husband, but that was postponed and she subsequently announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and was undergoing a mastectomy.
The Democratic senator later defended his wife in a clash with The Washington Post.
“Don’t suck that blood! She has cancer,” Menendez yelled at a Post reporter.
Given that the incumbent senator has declined to seek reelection as a Democrat, Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) is the clear favorite to secure his party’s nomination in the June 4 primary.
Potential Republican rivals are also due to be decided on the same day.
If Menendez chooses to run as an independent, he has until June 4 to gather 800 signatures.
Menendez won a series of bribery charges in 2017 by a mismatched jury verdict and was re-elected in 2018.
Republicans and even some Democrats, such as Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania), have called on Trump to resign from his Senate seat, but the New Jersey native has refused.
Opinion polls have made it clear that he would not enjoy significant support from domestic voters if he decided to enter the race.
