Embattled Democrat Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) has signed a letter warning of “bad actors” and “corruption” in America’s political system.
The warning from Menendez comes despite the senator being indicted last week on charges of bribery, fraud, and extortion.
As Slasy News reported, the bombshell indictment against Menendez was unsealed in federal court last Friday.
The indictment shows that federal investigators raided Menendez’s home and found huge sums of cash stuffed in envelopes as well as hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of gold bars.
The charges are related to overseas dealings with the government of Egypt.
Menendez is accused of selling sensitive U.S. government information to Egyptian officials.
On Wednesday, Menendez pleaded not guilty over charges related to allegedly receiving lavish gifts, such as cash, gold bars, and a luxury vehicle, in return for political sway in the upper chamber.
Despite numerous calls from Democrats to resign, and his decision to temporarily step down from chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Menendez joined his colleagues in voicing concern over how dark money could threaten democracy.
The senator blasted “corruption” in Washington D.C. and demanded more “transparency.”
“The prevalence of dark money in our political system is a corrupting force undermining faith in our democratic institutions,” the letter reads.
“Removing the appropriations rider is a step towards increasing transparency and providing guidance on the boundaries of political activities for nonprofit organizations.
“In the meantime, the Treasury Department and the IRS must use its audit and enforcement powers to deter bad actors from engaging in impermissible political activity.”
Democrat Sen. Shelton Whitehouse (D-RI) authored the letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Daniel Werfel seeking clarification on nonprofits engaging in “political or election-related activity.”
This is wild.
Despite obvious corruption and countless colleagues calling on him to resign, @SenWhitehouse still had Bob Menendez sign a letter Monday warning about the "corrupting force" of dark money "undermining faith in our democratic institutions."https://t.co/TXIjTbCV7R pic.twitter.com/rdk4gnF7NI
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) September 27, 2023
A long list of elected Democrat officials from Menendez’s home state have called on the senator to resign.
Gov. Phil Murphy, Sen. Cory Booker, state Democratic Party Chairman LeRoy Jones, General Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, former Rep. Tom Malinowski, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, Rep. Josh Gottheimer, and Rep. Andy Kim have all urged Menendez to step down.
In light of the allegations, Kim has since announced a 2024 challenge to the senator.
Numerous Democrat senators have also asked Menendez to step aside.
Sens. John Fetterman (D-PA), Bob Casey (D-PA), Jon Tester (D-MT), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Peter Welch (D-VT), Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Michael Bennet (D-CO).
Menendez responded to the demands by playing the race card, as Slay News reported.
“Those who believe in justice believe in innocence until proven guilty,” Menendez said in response to calls for his ouster.
“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.
“It is not lost on me how quickly some are rushing to judge a Latino and push him out of his seat.
“I am not going anywhere.”
