By Robert Laurie ——Bio and Archives--March 6, 2015
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The Justice Department is preparing to bring criminal corruption charges against New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez, alleging he used his Senate office to push the business interests of a Democratic 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, CNN has learned exclusively. An announcement could come within weeks. Prosecutors are under pressure in part because of the statute of limitation on some of the allegations. 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.Over the last six months, Menendez has emerged as a Democrat thorn in President Obama's side. He's repeatedly launched stringent attacks against the administration's Iran deal, their handling of North Korea, and their decision to normalize relations with Cuba. It's obviously possible that Menendez is simply another corrupt Democrat from a state with a long history of shady politicians, but people are wondering. Is it possible that this former "Gang of Eight" member has been tearing into Obama to prepare a "he's out to get me" defense, or is the administration actually targeting him as punishment for his impudence? Here's CNN and, yes, I do think it's hilarious that Eric Holder oversees something called the "public integrity section."
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