Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) got choked up on the Senate floor Tuesday while addressing the slew of bribery allegations against him. Menendez was charged in a federal corruption indictment in September. Additional bribery charges were brought against him in superseding indictments filed in October and January.
“I understand how the government's accusations, made in the most sensational and purposely damning way possible, its misuse of the grand jury system to bring superseding indictments even though it had all the information they alleged from the beginning, can be a source of concern and content by some of my colleagues, the political establishment, and most importantly, the people of New Jersey. I get it. And I am suffering greatly as a result of what they have done,” Menendez said.
Then, fighting back tears, Menendez added: “After 50 years of public service, this is not how I wanted to celebrate my Golden Jubilee. But I have never violated the public trust. I have been a patriot for and of my country.”
