US Senator Bob Menendez Faces Fraud and Bribery Charges, Petitions to Run for Senate as Independent Candidate.
New Jersey Democrat Sen. Bob Menendez is currently facing federal charges of fraud, extortion, bribery, and acting as a foreign agent for Egypt between 2018 and 2022 while serving as chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee. As his political career hangs in balance, Menendez has decided to petition for a run as an independent candidate in order to save it.
Menendez chose not to participate in his state’s Democratic primary and has been personally collecting signatures in an attempt to gain ballot access, according to the New Jersey Globe. In order to secure his place on the 2024 ballot, he must obtain 800 valid signatures before the deadline on June 4th.
Should Menendez manage to get on the ballot, his presence could have significant implications for the 2024 Senate races, potentially putting New Jersey up for grabs by Republicans. As reported by The Post, Mike Berg, communications director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee stated, “We’re keeping a close eye on New Jersey.
The political maneuvers surrounding Menendez’s case could provide him with leverage during his upcoming trial, which is expected to conclude around the end of June. Throughout this ordeal, Menendez has maintained his innocence and vowed to beat the charges against him. A previous 2017 effort by the US Department of Justice to prosecute him on similar corruption charges resulted in a mistrial.
Menendez’s campaign war chest still contains $3.5 million, which is more than sufficient for mounting a credible challenge in his bid for re-election as an independent candidate. Despite facing multiple challenges, Sen. Bob Menendez remains determined to prove his innocence and continue his political career.
