BREAKING: Justice Department to bring CORRUPTION charges against Sen. Menendez

[brooklynite]

CNN ALERT: The Justice Department is preparing to bring criminal corruption charges against Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey, alleging the Democrat used his Senate office to push the business interests of a donor and friend in exchange for gifts.

People briefed on the case say Attorney General Eric Holder has signed off on prosecutors' request to proceed with charges. An announcement could come within weeks.

[TwilightGardener]

1. Weird that nobody's interested in this. Kind of big news.

[Capt. Obvious]

8. This is just to distract

from his Dominican prostitution scandal!

[TwilightGardener]

10. OK, I LOL'd.

[MADem]

22. I remember when that "hit" -- but I am not clear as to the outcome.

Was it disproven, or not proven?

Is this guy a target because people want him out of the way, or does he walk close to the edge?

I'm embarrassed to say I know so little about all this--I usually try to keep up with what's going on in the upper body of Congress, anyway.

[NOVA_Dem]

20. He's always been an AIPAC/Wall Street shill. Good riddance. n/t

[DemocratSinceBirth]

23. You do know Chris Christie names his successor if he resigns or is imprisoned.

But I suspect we are a long way from that.

[Orsino]

31. Seems light on details. Or at least details sufficient for outrage.

I've taken it for granted that he was dirty, but I thought he was dirty in legal ways.

I guess I'll wait to see how much of this could be bullshit--or at least generally accepted bullshit.

[RichGirl]

37. It's good news actually....

My former governor...a republican Bob McDonnell did the same thing and he and his wife were both convicted and sentenced to some prison time. Which ever party, this kind of thing needs to stop.

[geek tragedy]

2. Corzine, Christie, Menendez . . . dayum Corey Booker looking like Mr Clean nt

[fredamae]

4. Add OR Dem Guv Kitzhaber to the list n/t

[cali]

6. yeah, but those listed by geek have something in common: all from NJ

[fredamae]

12. Missed that... :)

There are So many around the country...thanks for the correction!

[HappyMe]

3. Good.

[MerryBlooms]

5. rec & kick

[countryjake]

7. There's a link to that breaking story now...

http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/06/politics/robert-menendez-criminal-corruption-charges-planned/

~snip~

The case could pose a high-profile test of the Justice Department's ability to prosecute sitting lawmakers, having already spawned a legal battle over whether key evidence the government has gathered is protected by the Constitution's Speech and Debate clause.

The FBI and prosecutors from the Justice Department's public integrity section, have pursued a variety of allegations against Menendez, who has called the probe part of "smear campaign" against him.

The government's case centers on Menendez's relationship with Salomon Melgen, a Florida ophthalmologist who the senator has called a friend and political supporter. Melgen and his family have been generous donors to the senator and various committees the senator is associated with.

Investigators have focused in part on plane trips Menendez took in 2010 to the Dominican Republic as a guest of Melgen. In 2013, after word of the federal investigation became public, Menendez paid back Melgen $58,000 for the 2010 plane trips calling his failure to properly disclose the flights an "oversight."

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

9. Menendez Expected to Face Federal Corruption Charges/NYT

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/07/us/menendez-expected-to-face-federal-corruption-charges.html?_r=0

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department expects to file corruption charges against Senator Robert Menendez, Democrat of New Jersey, a law enforcement official said Friday, culminating an investigation that has dogged the senator for two years.

The investigation has focused on his relationship with a Florida eye doctor who is a longtime friend and political benefactor. Federal prosecutors said Mr. Menendez did political favors for the doctor, Salomon Melgen.

A lawyer for Mr. Menendez did not immediately return a message seeking comment, but the senator and his lawyers have adamantly denied that Mr. Menendez did anything improper.

The expected charges, which were first reported by CNN, are expected in the next few weeks, the official said.

[hrmjustin]

11. Can't stand him but innocent until proven guilty.

[hrmjustin]

14. What about Christie?

[Nuclear Unicorn]

25. Post #13 was a strange thing to throw at you.

[hrmjustin]

27. Agreed!

[FSogol]

29. Supporting Christie?

[H2O Man]

16. In the context

of within the legal system, definitely. Outside of that context, there is ample evidence to indicate he has betrayed those he is supposed to represent.

[hrmjustin]

17. I have not followed it much but the DOJ agrees with you.

[Sheepshank]

15. Paves the way for a Christie set of corruption charges

no way can anyone claim that it is a partisn action on the part of the DOJ

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

18. Good, if it is valid. I wish we could go after Christie for his obvious crimes

and the many other Republicans that are dirtier than a wash rag in burger joint on saturday night

[Spazito]

19. Wow, if he is guilty of this, he should be held accountable...

I hope Christie is next in line.

[edhopper]

21. Riding in a donors plane

is something Christie does on a regular basis.

But He made sure Jersey law allows him to be corrupt.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

24. Navigating cookie jars without getting caught with crumbs on your hands is tricky.

"The government of my country snubs honest simplicity, but fondles artistic villainy, and I think I might have developed into a very capable pickpocket if I had remained in the public service a year or two."

Mark Twain

[pennylane100]

26. Well that will take care of him pretending to be a democrat.

I think John Stewart should run for his seat after Mendez goes to jail.

[HereSince1628]

28. I suppose Cristie wouldn't nominate a Dem to fill that seat.

Holding the senate just got harder, eh?

[Kelvin Mace]

30. Oh, hell no

In fact, he will use the seat as a way to extort support from the GOP money boys.

[rhett o rick]

32. Does this mean we will be seeing a Senator Christie? Just sayin'.

[frylock]

33. 'baggers are already floating the Obama revenge angle

[Comrade Grumpy]

34. New Jersey? Crooked? Say it ain't so.

[AngryAmish]

35. As an Illinoisan, I would like to thank New Jersey

Our list of corrupt politicians is nearly endless. Boy, do we miss Blago! But New Jersey, a plucky little state, keeps trying to top us in dirty pols. God love 'em! So cute.

[AngryAmish]

36. Hey everybody, look at the shot of lil AA and Blago from years ago

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x8433725

Scroll down.

[butterfly77]

38. Oh Well...

another arrogant bastard bites the dust.