New Jersey senator Bob Menendez is currently on trial for corruption, having been accused by federal prosecutors of taking part in a global bribery and fraud scheme involving hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of gold bars, a Mercedes-Benz for his wife, a meat monopoly, and the government of Qatar, among other things. If convicted, he faces decades in prison, and his Democratic colleagues want him out. But Bob apparently believes his time in Washington is not yet over, and we know this because he filed to run for reelection this week.
Yes, the man who allegedly stashed “more than $480,000 in cash—much of it stuffed into envelopes and hidden in clothing, closets, and a safe” around his home for what we’re sure were totally legit reasons, filed paperwork on Monday to run for a fourth term in the Senate as an independent. According to the New Jersey Department of State, Menendez’s petition had 2,465 signatures, more than three times the amount required to get on the general election ballot as an unaffiliated candidate.
In a statement, Menendez said: “Today, I submitted well above the threshold of signatures required to run for reelection. The people of this great state deserve a leader in Washington with a proven track record of fighting tooth and nail to deliver results, and I intend to keep doing so as an independent Democrat. It displeases me to have to go this route, thanks to overzealous prosecutors, but I will do what must be done to continue to uphold my oath of office for my constituents.… Simply put, I have delivered for New Jersey and will continue to do so. I look forward to putting these accusations behind me and getting back to work for my constituents.” He added: “Despite what is portrayed in the press, my innocence continues to be laid out in court. As I have said before; I have committed no crime. I am more confident than ever that New Jerseyans and the rest of the American public will see me exonerated of what I am being accused of, and I will be reelected to the Senate once again.”
In March, Menendez said he would not run in the Democratic primary, but suggested he would go the independent route. Representative Andy Kim is expected to win the primary, and said in a statement Monday of Menendez’s bid: “Americans are fed up with politicians putting their own personal benefit ahead of what’s right for the country. Everyone knows Bob Menendez isn’t running for the people of New Jersey, he’s doing it for himself. It’s beyond time for change, and I’m stepping up to restore integrity back into the US Senate.”
A Monmouth University poll conducted in early March found that 75% of New Jersey residents believe Menendez is probably guilty.
