(GoRealNewsNow.com) – While seemingly everyone agrees that he should get out — resign immediately — United States Senator Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat indicted yesterday on bribery and corruption charges, has so far refused to do so.
Specifically, despite the escalating calls for his resignation after being slammed with federal corruption charges over an alleged prolonged bribery scheme, the New Jersey Democrat, Menendez, asserted on Friday that he will not resign.
“Those who believe in justice believe in innocence until proven guilty,” stated Menendez, 69.
“I intend to continue to fight for the people of New Jersey with the same success I’ve had for the past five decades. This is the same record of success these very same leaders have lauded all along.”
Having served in the Senate since 2006, Menendez argued that the push for his removal from the higher legislative body is influenced by his ethnicity.
“It is not lost on me how quickly some are rushing to judge a Latino and push him out of his seat,” he articulated.
“I am not going anywhere.”
On Friday, the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York lodged charges against Menendez and his wife, Nadine Menendez, 56, accusing them of three counts of conspiracy related to what the prosecutors have termed a “corrupt bribery agreement.” This arrangement allegedly favored the couple, three businessmen from New Jersey, and the Egyptian government.
The charges allege that Menendez accepted gifts, including a $60,000 Mercedes Benz C-Class sedan, 13 bars of gold, and $566,000 in cash. These were ostensibly in return for supplying Egyptian officials with confidential US government information and advocating for the release of $300 million in aid to Cairo.
Additionally, prosecutors allege that in exchange for safeguarding the business interests of Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, and Fred Daibes and for protecting Uribe and Daibes from legal inquiries, Menendez and his wife received mortgage payments, a recliner, exercise equipment, and other items.
While Menendez steadfastly commits to maintaining his Senate position, he has relinquished his role as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee “until the matter has been resolved,” as confirmed by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on Friday.