In an interview with David Cruz of NJ Spotlight News that aired this evening, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez remained defiant about the federal charges brought against him, insisting once again that he is innocent and that he has no intention of resigning.
“The easiest thing for me to do would be to resign,” the senator said in the interview, the first he’s given since the charges were released. “Then I wouldn’t have to go through all the negativity, I wouldn’t have to go through all of the press, I wouldn’t have to through the disapproval of others. But that’s not me. I don’t do the easiest thing. The reality is that I’m innocent.”
On September 22, Menendez, his wife, and three alleged co-conspirators were charged with bribery for allegedly trading sensitive information and influence in Washington in exchange for cash and gifts. Earlier this month, Menendez was hit with an additional charge of acting as an unregistered foreign agent of the Egyptian government. Menendez has pleaded not guilty on all counts.
“The government presented this in the most salacious way possible, the most sensational way possible, in order to have the desired effect that they have temporarily achieved,” Menendez said during today’s interview.
Asked by Cruz what his own version of events is, Menendez largely demurred, saying that he didn’t want to delve into details while the case is still ongoing.
“I can’t get into every specific of the charges that the government has alleged, because I need to be able to preserve that for my defense,” he said.
Many of Menendez’s colleagues in the Senate and his fellow New Jersey Democrats have called for his resignation, among them Gov. Phil Murphy and Senator Cory Booker, and the senator’s approval ratings have plummeted to the single digits. Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown) has already announced a primary challenge against Menendez in next year’s election, and other challengers like First Lady Tammy Murphy may enter the race as well.
That will make it exceedingly difficult for Menendez to win a primary election if he does try to seek a fourth term next year. But when Cruz asked the senator if he had “given any thought” to letting this term be his last, Menendez said no.
“No,” Menendez said. “I am focused, for one, on proving my innocence, so that New Jerseyans will know that these charges are false. Secondly, I am continuing to do the work that I have done every day for the last several years… We are working on the things that are critically important to New Jerseyans. There is more work to be done, and I would look forward to continuing to do that work.”
Watch the full interview here: