With Christmas fast approaching, Senator John Fetterman decided to surprise his colleague Bob Menendez with a small gift from a familiar face.
Fetterman (D-Pa.) sent Menendez (D-NJ) Cameo from former Rep. Long Island lie George Santos (R-NY) in a backhanded attempt to raise his spirits.
“Hey Bobby, look, I don’t think I need to tell you, but these people who want to get you in trouble and want to kick you out and make you run away – you make them shut up or shut up,” a smiling and cheerful Santos said. in his cameo.
“You stand strong, sir, and don’t be swayed by all the haters out there,” the 35-year-old concluded. “Stay strong and Merry Christmas!”
Fetterman, who was the first Senate Democrat to demand Menendez’s resignation after his September indictment on corruption charges, paid Cameo with campaign funds, a source familiar with the matter told The Post.
John Fetterman spreads the Christmas spirit by trolling. Getty Images
Santos, who has christened himself a “Former Icon of Congress,” has taken to Cameo, a platform where celebrities record personalized messages to anyone willing to pay, to make ends meet.
Cameos of the disgraced former congressman were selling for about $200 a tree as of Monday afternoon.
“I think my ethics-challenged colleague @BobMenendezNJ could use some encouragement given his huge legal troubles. So, I reached out to a seasoned expert on the matter to give ‘Bobby from Jersey’ some advice,” Fetterman wrote on X.
I thought it was my colleague who challenged the ethics @BobMenendezNJ could use some encouragement given his massive legal troubles.
So, I reached out to an experienced expert on the matter to advise ‘Bobby from Jersey’. pic.twitter.com/y8iX55EyNi
— John Fetterman (@JohnFetterman) December 4, 2023
Santos replied by suggesting he was in on the joke, posted wryly: “I love this! I wish I knew the Bobby in question! LOL.”
Ironically, Santos had defended Menendez during his brief stint in Congress.
“Due process is important. He has the right to defend himself. He is innocent until proven guilty. The media needs to stop acting like everyone is guilty before they are judged by a jury,” Santos told NBC reporters following the senator’s allegations.
George Santos doesn’t think Bob Menendez should resign:
“Due process is important. He has the right to defend himself. He is innocent until proven guilty. The media needs to stop acting like everyone is guilty before they are tried by a jury.” pic.twitter.com/QPX16Rszkq
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePress) September 24, 2023
Santos was expelled from Congress on Dec. 1, becoming the first House lawmaker to get the boot in more than two decades, and the sixth House member ever.
His dismissal came in the wake of a damning report from the House Ethics Committee that found the lawmaker “blatantly stole” campaign funds, among other misconduct.
The House voted 311-114 to boot Santos, who also faces a 23-count federal indictment for alleged misappropriation of campaign funds, defrauding donors and more. He has denied any wrongdoing.
George Santos looks eager to play along. Getty Images
Following Santos’ removal, Fetterman publicly questioned why Menendez was allowed to remain in the Senate while he waited for his own day in court.
“We have colleagues in the Senate who are actually doing much more sinister and serious things… If you’re going to fire Santos, how can you allow someone like Menendez to stay in the Senate?” Fetterman reflected on “The View”.
“I think [he] is really a senator for Egypt, not New Jersey,” the Pennsylvanian added of his colleague.
Bob Menendez has pleaded not guilty. Reuters
Menendez and his wife Nadine are accused of receiving $486,461 in cash and $150,000 in gold bars and a $60,000 Mercedes-Benz convertible to help businessmen Wael Hana, Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes.
Prosecutors allege the senator used his political influence to interfere in investigations surrounding his wealthy associates, passed sensitive security information to Egyptian government agents, and lobbied for the Arab country to receive US military aid.
Menendez has denied wrongdoing and previously survived a separate indictment on other bribery charges by the skin of his teeth because of a hung jury.
This time, he is up for re-election in the 2024 cycle and already faces a stiff primary challenge from Rep. Progressive Andy Kim and New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy — while rejecting calls to resign.
Menendez’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
