Menendez Indicted

What next?

SURPRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISE!

No surprise.

Does he resign as ranking member on Foreign Relations?
Does he resign from the Senate?
If the latter we may have another Senate election this year.

So far, he has said he won't resign. We'll see if he can keep that up.

NJ elected officials in their finest traditions...

NJ is no better or worse than any other State.

So pissed at him. grrrr. I was a fan for many years.

the democrats will be losing one of their saner voices on foreign affairs and the mid-east particularly. what a shame.

This guy has been under a cloud since Christie was prosecutor. I'm glad we'll be getting this over ine way or another.

Assuming that Barbara Boxer wants to continue as ranking member on the Environment and Public Works, Ben Cardin of Maryland will replace Menendez. That's an improvement.

He may not resign but will he run for re-election in 2016?

LOST said:

He may not resign but will he run for re-election in 2016?

Depends on whether he's in jail. And even then, if he did he'd probably win.

This things take a long time. The trial may not even start by then.

True. And even then, he'd likely be out on bail during appeals. So my guess is still running for re-election in 2016 unless the Democrats find a way to keep him off the ballot.

The Democrats could just put up someone else and if Menendez insists on running there would be a Primary contest.

I am assuming the prosecutors feel like they have a pretty strong case or else the Justice Department would have squashed the case. Even though Menendez is a pain in Obama's foreign policy behind, he is still a Democrat.

He's toast.

I wouldn't count him out. A former prosecutor who handled these kind of cases said on TV that the charge of "bribery" is very difficult to prove.

If he did resign what would happen in terms of succession? Would there be a special election or would Christie get to appoint some wing nut for the rest of his term?

Klinker said:

If he did resign what would happen in terms of succession? Would there be a special election or would Christie get to appoint some wing nut for the rest of his term?

The 17th Amendment requires a special election. But it also allows for interim appointments, as directed by the State legislature. Some states do not allow interim appointments. But New Jersey does.

Remember that when Senator Lautenberg died the Governor appointed a Republican (Chiesa) until a special election could be held, which the Governor made sure did not coincide with the next general election.

Given that Menendez's term expires in 2016, the logical thing to do would be for Christie to appoint an interim replacement until then. Of course, given Christie's complete self-promotion with no concern for the cost to the taxpayers, he quite well could call a special election at some time that is more convenient for him, the cost be damned. I think it is a foregone conclusion that he would appoint a Republican to the post, and the more Neanderthal the better for Christie as he tries to woo the other Neanderthals in Iowa and New Hampshire.

LOST said:

NJ is no better or worse than any other State.

but Hudson County has its own special place in the rankings.

Torricelli, Bergen County. Treffinger, James Essex County. John Lynch: Middlesex. Abscam and Wayne Byrant: Camden. Andrew Lucas: Monmouth.

Corruption is endemic to politics everywhere.

mfpark said:

Given that Menendez's term expires in 2016, the logical thing to do would be for Christie to appoint an interim replacement until then.

Wasn't Menendez reelected in 2012 and thus up for reelection in 2018?

Klinker said:

mfpark said:

Given that Menendez's term expires in 2016, the logical thing to do would be for Christie to appoint an interim replacement until then.

Wasn't Menendez reelected in 2012 and thus up for reelection in 2018?

You are correct--my mistake.

tjohn said:

I am assuming the prosecutors feel like they have a pretty strong case or else the Justice Department would have squashed the case. Even though Menendez is a pain in Obama's foreign policy behind, he is still a Democrat.

After Ted Stevens do not assume anything.

“If a vacancy shall happen in the representation of this State in the United States senate, it shall be filled at the general election next succeeding the happening thereof, unless such vacancy shall happen within 70 days next preceding such election, in which case it shall be filled by election at the second succeeding general election, unless the governor of this State shall deem it advisable to call a special election therefor, which he is authorized hereby to do. The governor of this State may make a temporary appointment of a senator of the United States from this State whenever a vacancy shall occur by reason of any cause other than the expiration of the term; and such appointee shall serve as such senator until a special election or general election shall have been held pursuant to law and the Board of State Canvassers can deliver to his successor a certificate of election.”

ram said:

tjohn said:

I am assuming the prosecutors feel like they have a pretty strong case or else the Justice Department would have squashed the case. Even though Menendez is a pain in Obama's foreign policy behind, he is still a Democrat.

After Ted Stevens do not assume anything.

True, but I thought there were some political incentives to pursue the Stevens prosecution that are absent in the case of Menendez.

Finally, after all this culture crap, a good old-fashioned bribery case. Way to go old-school, Bob.

“There is something about this state—whether it’s in the air or in the water or whatever it is, that just makes people more accepting of corrupt practices,” Bob Ingle, co-author of The Soprano State, said.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/04/01/why-jersey-politicians-are-all-crooks.html

Illinois is way ahead of NJ.