Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), who is accused by the federal government of accepting gold bullion and hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for influence as a senator, is considering an independent re-election bid. It has been reported.
NBC News reported, citing two sources who “spoke directly to him.” , and On Thursday, it was reported that Menendez was considering running as an independent.
He is currently speaking to allies about his accomplishments and career, and is preparing to collect petitions to run as an independent candidate in November. Time is not on Menendez’s side, as he needs to collect 1,000 signatures by March 25th if he runs as a Democrat. But he would get more time if he ran as an independent. In that case, only 800 signatures would be needed by June 4 to qualify for the vote.
A clearly dissatisfied Menendez responded to questions from NBC News Thursday afternoon without denying that he plans to run as an independent. Then everyone will know. ”
Sen. Bob Menendez, who was indicted, is considering running for re-election in November as an independent, according to sources.
The Democratic Party did not deny this idea. @JulieNBCNews. https://t.co/wnhTWdICMO pic.twitter.com/oc1m6ZRtFv
— NBC News (@NBCNews) March 14, 2024
The report was released days after Menendez entered a not guilty plea to new charges in an expanded indictment to 18, the Associated Press reported. I got it.. The outlet said the new obstruction of justice charges to which he and his wife, Nadine Menendez, pleaded not guilty on Monday, “are related to what prosecutors say was an attempt to cover up illegal bribes. It is said that
Notably, several prominent Democrats took advantage of Menendez’s legal problems and declared candidacy for his seat. New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy and Congressman Andy Kim (D-N.J.) are running for Senate, but if he were also a Democrat, he would be more of a Democratic voter than the 70-year-old who faces criminal charges. Both are likely to be preferable options. Ballot paper.
After the NBC News report surfaced, Kim quickly made the case for why he should be the Democratic candidate in a post on X, saying that if Menendez were to run an independent campaign, the Democratic Party He insisted that the best candidate must be fielded in the general election.
“If Mr. Sen Menendez runs as an independent, Democrats will have to field their strongest candidate in the general election. I am a Democrat who won in a district that Mr. Trump won twice, and now We appeal to independent voters in far greater numbers than our competitors,” Kim declared.
If Sen. Menendez runs as an independent, Democrats would have to field their strongest candidate in the general election. I’m a Democrat who won in a district that Trump won twice and now appeals to independent voters in far greater numbers than my competitors. This November, you can win no matter what… https://t.co/NeTdD6BRGt pic.twitter.com/CiTf9Sh2aD
— Andy Kim (@AndyKimNJ) March 14, 2024
“I can win this. [November] No matter what Mr. Menendez decides,” Kim added. He has the support of Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania), one of Menendez’s most vocal critics and who has repeatedly called for his resignation.
Prosecutors allege that the Menendezs received money from New Jersey businessmen Wael Hana, Jose Uribe and Fred Duives “in exchange for their influence and power as senators, which they sought to protect and enrich.” He claims to have received hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes. As the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York said in its original September indictment, it “benefits the Arab Republic of Egypt.”
“Two of the three businessmen accused of bribing Mr. Menendez also pleaded not guilty on Monday. The third, Jose Uribe, pleaded guilty to bribery charges two weeks ago and on May 6 agreed to testify against others at his trial,” the Associated Press reported.
