NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A judge has dismissed seven counts in the corruption case against U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez and a longtime friend.
The seven counts all dealt with alleged bribery involving political donations to the New Jersey Democrat by Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen.
Defense lawyers had argued those donations had to be tied to specific acts by Menendez to be considered bribes. That’s a higher standard than the one applied to gifts Melgen gave to Menendez.
Eleven counts remain against the two men including bribery and fraud. Menendez also faces one count of making false statements for allegedly lying on Senate disclosure forms.
The first trial ended in a hung jury last fall. The government said last week it will retry the pair. A new trial date hasn’t been set.
Wonder if the government would agree not to retry him if he should decide he wants to spend more time with his wife and family.
It wouldn’t matter, he is from New Jersey. New Jersey is a blue state and Governor Philip Murphy is a Democrat.
Personally I would love to see Menendez resign. He has always seemed corrupt to me, but given the current bribery standard I don’t think the Government is going to have much luck on the remaining counts.
Menendez may be guilty, and he may be corrupt—two hoary New Jersey political traditions.
But the re-trial is pure politics and revenge from the obviously corrupt Sessions DoJ.
He can count his lucky stars he didn’t try to kiss a woman or touch her waist. Zero tolerance for that…
Depends on how hard his lawyers fight, but yes, I agree.
[Ahem.]