It would be “inappropriate and wrong” for New Jersey Sen. Bob Mendendez to remain in the Senate if convicted in his felony corruption trial, Vice President Mike Pence indicated.
The bribery case against U.S. Senator Bob Menendez – Democrat – survived a key test on Monday, as the federal judge overseeing his trial rejected a defense motion to throw out the most serious charges.
Prosecutors have accused Menendez, a 63-year-old Democrat, of taking bribes from Florida ophthalmologist Salomon Melgen in exchange for using his office to help the doctor in a variety of ways.
Both men deny wrongdoing and say Melgen was acting out of friendship.
Analysis | ‘Where is the crime exactly?’ An update on Sen. Bob Menendez’s corruption trial, a month in
The ongoing bribery trial against Menendez is ‘circumstantial’ and could even get thrown out at the last minute, says Thomas Moriarty, a New Jersey courts reporter.
Link to Original Article.
Judge’s ruling deals blow to Menendez
U.S. District Court Judge William Walls refused to toss any of the 18 charges in the corruption case against Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat.
From www.politico.com
Link to Original Article.
During the trial’s first six weeks, prosecutors presented evidence that Menendez pressured federal officials to secure visas for Melgen’s girlfriends, resolve a port dispute involving one of Melgen’s businesses and change a Medicare reimbursement policy after the agency determined Melgen had over billed it by millions of dollars.
In exchange, Melgen showered Menendez with private flights, luxury vacations and hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign backing, prosecutors said.
It would be “inappropriate and wrong” for New Jersey Sen. Bob Mendendez to remain in the Senate if convicted in his felony corruption trial, Vice President Mike Pence indicated on Tuesday.
Menendez, a Democrat, faces 18 corruption-related charges in connection with allegations that he wrongfully assisted a donor and friend, Dr. Salomon Melgen, in navigating government issues while Melgen attempted to get away with more than $100 million in Medicare fraud.
