Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) on Sunday, refrained from urging his colleague Sen. Bob Menendez to step down after New Jersey Democrat hit with federal corruption charges.
Durbin – Senate Democrat No. 2 – described the charges against Menendez as “very serious” but emphasized that Menendez is innocent until proven guilty.
“There is a presumption of innocence. How far it goes in terms of his future service is something the senators and New Jersey will have to decide,” Durbin told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday.
“This is a very serious charge. There is no question about it,” he added. “But it reminds us what I said about the allegations against Donald Trump being equally serious allegations. This is actually an allegation that needs to be proven.”
Durbin’s statement echoed that of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who insisted Friday that Menendez “has the right to due process and a fair trial.”
Several prominent New Jersey Democrats have called for Menendez to resign since the 69-year-old senator and his wife Nadine were accused of pocketing bribes — including 13 gold bars, $566,000 in cash and a Mercedes Benz C-Class sedan — in a “bribery” scandal. ” deal to benefit three New Jersey businessmen and the Egyptian government.
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin has stopped short of calling for New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez to resign after he was indicted on federal corruption charges.Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/Shutterstock
Durbin called the allegations “very serious” but said Menendez still has the “presumption of innocence.”
“I’m calling on him given the seriousness of the charges to step aside,” Rep. New Jersey’s Josh Gottheimer explains the “State of the Union.”
“We have an election coming up, there’s a lot of disruption, obviously,” the Democrat continued. “I think what’s best is that he steps aside.”
Gov. Phil Murphy also pleaded with Menendez to step down, and Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ) said he plans to run against Menendez — who is up for re-election in 2024 — following the allegations.
Menendez and his wife Nadine are accused of accepting bribes — including 13 gold bars, $566,000 in cash and a Mercedes Benz C-Class sedan.Photo by Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images
One man who declined to run for the seat is former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who is running for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
“I have an opportunity to nominate myself to the US Senate,” Christie told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday. “If I hadn’t nominated myself, the easiest way to get there, I certainly wouldn’t have run for it.”
WATCH: Fmr. NJ Gov. Chris Christie ruled out running for Senate if Sen. Menendez (D) is running for re-election.@GovChristie: “I have the opportunity to appoint myself to the US Senate … If I don’t appoint myself, the easiest way to get there, I certainly will not run for it.” pic.twitter.com/QoKd3C4Rgv
— Meet The Press (@MeetThePress) September 24, 2023
FBI agents allegedly found $566,000 in cash and several gold bars during a raid on Menendez’s Englewood Cliffs home in June 2022.
Prosecutors cited text messages and a wealth of digital evidence in the three-count indictment against Menendez, which was unsealed Friday in Manhattan federal court.
Menendez vehemently denies wrongdoing.
Menendez has denied the charges and refused to back down.Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
“Those behind this campaign cannot accept that a first generation Latin American from humble beginnings can rise to become a US Senator,” he said in a defiant statement. “Worse, they see me as an obstacle to achieving their broader political goals.”
In accordance with Senate Democratic caucus rules, he has chosen to temporarily step down from his position as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Schumer is set to decide on a temporary replacement for the powerful committee.
Menendez has long influenced foreign policy, but has split with Democrats over policy toward Iran and Afghanistan in the past.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
