U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., steered Monday that he wouldn’t resign his Senate seat amid federal corruption prices, and anticipated to be cleared of wrongdoing.
“I firmly consider that when all of the info are introduced, I can’t solely be exonerated, however I’ll stay an excellent New Jersey state senator.” Menendez advised reporters at a information convention in Union Metropolis, New Jersey, the place he served as mayor. These have been his first public statements for the reason that prices towards him have been revealed on Friday.
“The allegations towards me are simply allegations,” Menendez stated.
He requested his colleagues in Congress to “pause and let all of the info come out.”
“Prosecutors make errors typically,” he stated.
Menendez additionally provided an evidence for $480,000 in money that prosecutors stated was discovered at his New Jersey house, “most of it stuffed in envelopes and hidden in garments, closets and a secure.”
Menendez maintained that the cash was his and that he had obtained it legally.
“Over the course of 30 years, I’ve withdrawn 1000’s of {dollars} in money from my private financial savings account, which I saved for emergencies and due to my household historical past going through confiscation in Cuba,” he stated. “This was cash withdrawn from my private financial savings account primarily based on the revenue I had legally earned over the 30 years.”
A few of the envelopes “contained fingerprints and/or DNA” of one of many folks accused of bribing Menendez or that particular person’s driver, the indictment stated. Menendez didn’t deal with this allegation in his statements and didn’t take questions from reporters.
There have been quite a few requires Menendez to resign from Home Democrats and New Jersey Democratic officers, together with Gov. Phil Murphy. On the Senate aspect, solely John Fetterman, Democrat of Pennsylvania, known as for him to step down, whereas others described the accusations towards him as “devastating.”
Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., introduced Saturday that he’ll problem Menendez for his seat. “I did not count on to do that, however New Jersey deserves higher.” Kim wrote on Xthe social media platform previously referred to as Twitter.
Menendez and his spouse have been indicted Friday on prices that embrace conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit trustworthy providers fraud and conspiracy to commit extortion. The indictment alleges they acquired bribes that included “money, gold bullion, mortgage funds, compensation for diminished or no employment, a luxurious car and different objects of worth.”
Federal investigators who executed a search warrant at their house discovered greater than $480,000 in money, “most of it stuffed in envelopes and hidden in clothes, closets and a secure,” in accordance with the indictment.
Senators, excluding senior leaders, obtain $174,000 yearly.
Menendez has denied any wrongdoing and steered in a press release Friday evening that he was focused due to his heritage.
“It isn’t misplaced on me how shortly some folks rush to evaluate a Latino and get him out of his seat. “I am not going wherever,” he stated.