Sen. John Fetterman, R-Pennsylvania, further criticized embattled Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, calling Secretary Antony Blinken's appearance before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday despite corruption allegations. He called him a “despicable person” for being present at the secret meeting. .
Mr. Menendez resigned as chairman last year after being indicted on federal bribery charges.
“I don't understand why anyone would come into a meeting with that despicable attitude,” Fetterman told reporters. “And he has to go. I've been very clear about that. That's why they chose to support Andy Kim. It's amazing.”
Rep. Andy Kim (D.N.J.) is running against Menendez for Senate in the 2024 election. Kim is part of a chorus of Democrats calling for the New Jersey senator's resignation.
“We should have fired him,” said Fetterman, who has repeatedly called for Menendez's expulsion.
“I don't know why we didn't fire him, but I hope we fire him eventually,” he said.
Democratic lawmakers renew calls for Menendez's ouster after latest bribery charges
Sen. John Fetterman is one of several Democrats who called on Sen. Bob Menendez to resign from the Senate. (Bill Clark/Getty Images, Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
In a second superseding indictment unsealed this month, prosecutors say bribes were taken in exchange for supporting Qatari interests as part of a multiyear corruption scheme spanning 2021 to 2023, a year longer than originally anticipated, the Justice Department said. and accused Menendez of accepting gifts.
His lawyer, Adam Fee, said the new allegations “reek of desperation.”
Menendez and his wife, Nadine, requested separate trials, according to documents filed late Monday by their respective attorneys. Their trial is scheduled to begin in May in Manhattan.
In a request to District Court Judge Sidney H. Stein, Nadine's lawyers say they are seeking to protect confidential marital communications with Menendez in anticipation of her husband's possible testimony at trial. insisted.
Menendez faces federal charges for allegedly acting as a foreign agent and accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to benefit the Egyptian government through his power and influence as a senator. His attorney filed a motion to dismiss his additional charges earlier this month.
Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez establishes defense fund amid criminal investigation into gifts to wife: Report
New Jersey Democratic Senator Bob Menendez and his wife Nadine Menendez arrive at a federal courthouse in New York on September 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Gina Moon)
Menendez was first indicted in the federal bribery scheme on September 23, along with his wife Nadine and New Jersey businessmen Wael Hana, Jose Uribe and Fred Duives. All have pleaded not guilty.
The new allegations include that Menendez and his wife amassed wealth in cash, gold bars and luxury cars. The couple allegedly accepted gifts in exchange for Mr. Menendez using his influence to induce a Qatari investment company to invest in Mr. Dybes.
“Despite my innocence, the sensational allegations have led to growing calls for my resignation,” Menendez said on the Senate floor this month.
Menendez has repeatedly maintained his innocence and said there is “no evidence” of gifts or payments he allegedly received as a suspected foreign spy.
“In fact, at trial there will be a full explanation of what the truth is on these matters. The truth will prove that I am completely innocent of the charges,” he said. .
