# NJ Senator Menendez indicted on multiple corruption charges {2023-09-22} - Convicted on all counts on July 16, 2024
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nj-senator-menendez-indicted-on-multiple-corruption-charges-2023-09-22-convicted-on-all-counts-on-july-16-2024/990544
**Category:** Politics & Elections
**Created:** [September 22, 2023, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nj-senator-menendez-indicted-on-multiple-corruption-charges-2023-09-22-convicted-on-all-counts-on-july-16-2024/990544 "2023-09-22T15:02:06Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 4
### Author:  [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)
#### Post date: [September 24, 2023, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nj-senator-menendez-indicted-on-multiple-corruption-charges-2023-09-22-convicted-on-all-counts-on-july-16-2024/990544/61 "2023-09-24T14:42:04Z")
I don’t think a party switch is in the cards – why would the Republicans want him? He alone isn’t enough to give them control of the Senate, and they’d much rather have him as an example of Democratic corruption they can point to during next year’s election.
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### Author:  [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)
#### Post date: [September 24, 2023, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nj-senator-menendez-indicted-on-multiple-corruption-charges-2023-09-22-convicted-on-all-counts-on-july-16-2024/990544/62 "2023-09-24T15:22:24Z")
True about McGreevey, although he might not have been in that situation if he weren’t hiding his homosexuality. He is actually running for mayor someplace.
Who was that Democrat that was forced onto the ticket at the last minute when the actual nominee was indicted or something? Maybe they could dig him up.
ETA: weird, I thought I had replied to @Loach
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [September 24, 2023, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nj-senator-menendez-indicted-on-multiple-corruption-charges-2023-09-22-convicted-on-all-counts-on-july-16-2024/990544/63 "2023-09-24T20:12:55Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#):
>
> Give us an innocent reason for having all that cash and gold stashed around the house.
No one needs to explain their cash hoard.
What needs to be shown is that he got $ from nefarious/illegal means, which is exactly what the indictments do.
Note that if he resigns the Dem governor gets to appoint a successor, who then being an incumbent, has a better chance.
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### Author:  [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)
#### Post date: [September 25, 2023, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nj-senator-menendez-indicted-on-multiple-corruption-charges-2023-09-22-convicted-on-all-counts-on-july-16-2024/990544/64 "2023-09-25T12:53:37Z")
[You’ll all be stunned to hear that George Santos has no opinion on Menendez’s indictment but thinks that he is innocent until proven guilty.](https://www.msnbc.com/yasmin-vossoughian/watch/george-santos-weighs-in-on-bob-menendez-federal-indictment-193664069601) I’m not sure why they asked him-what did they expect? A fine example of wasting time.
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### Author:  [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)
#### Post date: [September 25, 2023, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nj-senator-menendez-indicted-on-multiple-corruption-charges-2023-09-22-convicted-on-all-counts-on-july-16-2024/990544/65 "2023-09-25T12:59:51Z")
Multiple posts on various social media sites have said things like “live your life so you don’t need George Santos to defend you.”
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### Author:  [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)
#### Post date: [September 25, 2023, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nj-senator-menendez-indicted-on-multiple-corruption-charges-2023-09-22-convicted-on-all-counts-on-july-16-2024/990544/66 "2023-09-25T21:35:23Z")
He serves on the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
He serves on the Committee on Finance.
As a Democrat, I presume he has voted in favor of deficit spending bills.
He apparently keeps a significant portion of his money in the form of gold bars.
That is . . . . interesting.
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### Author:  [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)
#### Post date: [September 25, 2023, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nj-senator-menendez-indicted-on-multiple-corruption-charges-2023-09-22-convicted-on-all-counts-on-july-16-2024/990544/67 "2023-09-25T21:57:23Z")
I’ve been hearing that this indictment is just a smokescreen to obfuscate the DoJ’s corruption. i.e. They’re going after Menendez to give the appearance of equal treatment. “See? We’re going after Democrats too, so you can’t just say we hate Republicans and Trump.” But the clever patriot sees through this ruse I guess.
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### Author:  [@MulderMuffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MulderMuffin)
#### Post date: [September 25, 2023, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nj-senator-menendez-indicted-on-multiple-corruption-charges-2023-09-22-convicted-on-all-counts-on-july-16-2024/990544/68 "2023-09-25T22:47:05Z")
Hmmm, last time he was indicted was by the DOJ under Obama, but the DOJ under trump dropped the charges…
Definitely 4D chess.
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### Author:  [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)
#### Post date: [September 25, 2023, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nj-senator-menendez-indicted-on-multiple-corruption-charges-2023-09-22-convicted-on-all-counts-on-july-16-2024/990544/69 "2023-09-25T23:06:24Z")
> [@mbh](#):
>
> He apparently keeps a significant portion of his money in the form of gold bars.
> That is . . . . interesting.
He was allegedly bribed in gold bars. He doesn’t keep his money in that.
Both parties have voted in favor of deficit spending bills. That is…boring.
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### Author:  [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2023, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nj-senator-menendez-indicted-on-multiple-corruption-charges-2023-09-22-convicted-on-all-counts-on-july-16-2024/990544/70 "2023-09-26T03:19:33Z")
> [@RitterSport](#):
>
> Both parties have voted in favor of deficit spending bills. That is…boring.
It’s curious how the Republicans in the House never have trouble with deficit budgets when a Republican is in the White House, and don’t threaten shutdowns then.
It’s almost as if their actions are motivated by something other than fiscal responsibility.
But that can’t be correct. Can it?
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### Author:  [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2023, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nj-senator-menendez-indicted-on-multiple-corruption-charges-2023-09-22-convicted-on-all-counts-on-july-16-2024/990544/71 "2023-09-26T07:30:55Z")
I wonder if he’s keeping his Senate seat as a bargaining chip. “OK, I resign, and you drop all charges. Otherwise, see ya in court.” Would DoJ bite? Dems would go for it, but DoJ prolly not.
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### Author:  [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2023, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nj-senator-menendez-indicted-on-multiple-corruption-charges-2023-09-22-convicted-on-all-counts-on-july-16-2024/990544/72 "2023-09-26T10:02:01Z")
Jeez, I really hope the DoJ doesn’t go for that. That would completely undermine any independence that they have.
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### Author:  [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2023, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nj-senator-menendez-indicted-on-multiple-corruption-charges-2023-09-22-convicted-on-all-counts-on-july-16-2024/990544/73 "2023-09-26T10:19:48Z")
Really? I think, what with his pleading guilty to all charges, a few years of home confinement, maybe, surrender of all ill-gotten goods, and some sort of declaration of total ineligibility to proclaim his innocence, hold any sort of public office, etc. again, it would set a great precedence for other, more serious cases.
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### Author:  [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2023, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nj-senator-menendez-indicted-on-multiple-corruption-charges-2023-09-22-convicted-on-all-counts-on-july-16-2024/990544/74 "2023-09-26T10:26:38Z")
Dropping all the charges is not pleading guilty and years of home confinement.
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### Author:  [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2023, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nj-senator-menendez-indicted-on-multiple-corruption-charges-2023-09-22-convicted-on-all-counts-on-july-16-2024/990544/75 "2023-09-26T10:28:39Z")
That’s true. I guess I’m thinking he’s got a valuable bargaining chip there, and I hope he uses it. My previous post was maybe DoJ’s response to his offering to resign.
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### Author:  [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2023, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nj-senator-menendez-indicted-on-multiple-corruption-charges-2023-09-22-convicted-on-all-counts-on-july-16-2024/990544/76 "2023-09-26T10:30:42Z")
I’m not really sure what you’re proposing anymore, but I would be fine with a plea deal that has him cough up all his ill-gotten gains and is confined to his home in exchange for his resignation and a guilty plea. I don’t think that would look bad for the DoJ.
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### Author:  [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2023, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nj-senator-menendez-indicted-on-multiple-corruption-charges-2023-09-22-convicted-on-all-counts-on-july-16-2024/990544/77 "2023-09-26T10:32:40Z")
That’s ultimately what I’m suggesting.
I meant that his seat would be his opening bid, but yeah, DoJ wouldn’t go for it, and would offer the package you (and I) suggest, which I think would be good all around.
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### Author:  [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2023, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nj-senator-menendez-indicted-on-multiple-corruption-charges-2023-09-22-convicted-on-all-counts-on-july-16-2024/990544/78 "2023-09-26T13:48:32Z")
It’s frustrating to see Senate Democrats largely standing mute on Menedez, while New Jersey Democrats have increasingly called on him to resign. NJ state democrats do have an extra incentive – the New Jersey state legislature is up for election this November and Republicans are already using the indictment to try to tar all Democrats as corrupt.
With Senators back in Washington this week, you can bet Cory Booker is going to get hounded by the Capitol press corps as he tries to scurry from his office to the floor. I hope he has a better answer than “letting the process play out.”
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### Author:  [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2023, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nj-senator-menendez-indicted-on-multiple-corruption-charges-2023-09-22-convicted-on-all-counts-on-july-16-2024/990544/79 "2023-09-26T15:17:47Z")
I heard someone on TV yesterday say that Menendez has a reputation (even among Senators) for being especially vindictive, which might enter into the equation.
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### Author:  [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)
#### Post date: [September 26, 2023, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nj-senator-menendez-indicted-on-multiple-corruption-charges-2023-09-22-convicted-on-all-counts-on-july-16-2024/990544/80 "2023-09-26T15:41:03Z")
Thats what I get for posting early on a Tuesday — it’s all starting to tumble down today with a dozen Senate Democrats now calling on Menedez to resign, including Cory Booker.
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