The Menendez Corruption Trial Begins.

This week, the corruption trial of Robert Menendez begins. According to a report in the AP, Menendez and his wife were arrested on bribery and corruption charges over accepting bribes from three business people, including one from Egypt. Menendez’s lawyer will claim in court that his wife was the driving force behind the bribery schemes, and he knew nothing about it. Menendez’s wife Nadine’s trial will not start until July at the earliest due to a health issue. It is unclear how the trial will play out, but whatever its outcome will ruin his reputation forever.

Menendez drops out of Democratic Primary.

Yesterday, the embattled New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez announced that he will not run in the upcoming Democratic senate race. According to a report in the New York Times, Menendez realized that due to the international bribery charges he was facing, he was unlikely to win the primary with the democratic party distancing themselves from him. However, according to a report in The Hill, there are strong rumors that Menendez may attempt to run for senate as an independent. Menendez has June 4^th to obtain the minimum 800 signatures needed to mount a campaign. Given the scandal surrounding Menendez, I don’t see how he can run again for senate. Surely, his political career is over at this point.

Menedez Associate Pleads Guilty on Bribery Charges.

On Friday, a New Jersey businessman, Joe Uribe, pleaded guilty to seven charges, including bribery, wire fraud, and obstruction of justice. According to a report by the Washington Post, Uribe conspired with several other people to gift Menendez’s wife Nadine a Mercedes Benz in return for Menendez attempting to quash several ongoing investigations related to a business partner of Uribe’s. Also, according to a report by the AP, Uribe was hoping that the gift of the car would stop an inquiry regarding a family member of Uribe. Uribe could face up to 95 years in prison unless he testifies against other defendants in the Menendez trial. If Uribe has any sense, he will turn state’s evidence on his associates to lessen his time behind bars.