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Senator. Bob Menendez of New Jersey to run an independent reelection campaign amid corruption trial in federal court

By MIKE CATALINI

03/06/2024

Updated 4:09 AM IST, June 4, 2024

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — U.S. Senator. Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat who is in federal court on corruption allegations at New York, has filed for candidacy for reelection as an independent to run for reelection.

Menendez 70, had said this year that he will not run for his Democratic nomination for the fourth term. However, on Monday, he registered paperwork with the state for an independent campaign to the electoral ballot. He previously had said that the possibility of an independent presidential run could be a possibility.

On his way to the court on Monday if he was changing the political party, Menendez said in Spanish, “no, independent doesn’t necessarily mean I’m changing.”

On Monday morning, Menendez addressed reporters who questioned him about his campaign that he’d done lots to help the people of New Jersey, particularly during the pandemic as well as after Superstorm Sandy.

Menendez identified his party in the documents submitted to State officials in the state as “Menendez in the race for Senate.”

The stakes for political stability are very high in light of the Democrats have a narrow majority of the Senate and the House of Representatives, which is where New Jersey is normally safely in Democratic control. It’s not clear what kind of support Menendez will get off of U.S. Rep. Andy Kim which is in strong situation to take the Democratic primary that ends on Tuesday. There’s a reason why the GOP hasn’t won any U.S. Senate election in the state since 1972.

Kim is who was a three-term congressman from 3rd District, said Menendez was running for his own benefit not for the people.

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“Americans are tired of politicians putting their personal interests first of what is best for the nation,” Kim said.

Menendez and his wife Nadine and his business colleagues were indicted with federal charges last year by prosecutor from New York with running a scheme where Menendez offered to make use of his office to assist the businesspeople in exchange in exchange for gold bars and cash, as well as the payment of a mortgage on the house his wife owns as well as a luxury vehicle. The Menedezes and two business associates have pleaded guilty. Another pleaded guilty and has agreed to be a witness.

In the court, prosecutors have suggested that Menendez tried the sale of his business in order make money for himself, by aiding his business associate Wael Hana secure the lucrative privilege of the certification of meat exports to Egypt as being in compliance with Islamic guidelines and also helping Fred Daibes with investments linked to an heir to the Qatari royal family.

Menendez has denied that there was any corruption. His lawyers said that his actions was diplomatic and acting for the benefit of his people who he was representing. Gold bars were owned by his wife and the cash lying around his home was a long-standing habit that stemmed from his parents who escaped Communist Cuba according to his lawyer.

Daibes as well as Hana are both on trial along with Menendez. Nadine Menendez is receiving the treatment of her breast cancer according to the senator’s stated, and is scheduled to be tried at the end of summer.

Menendez has been elected to office for the majority of his time He was appointed to the Union City, New Jersey school board after just two years after graduating from high school. Since then, he’s been elected to the office of the Legislature as an U.S. representative and in 2006, he was elected Senator from the United States. U.S. senator.

He escaped political persecution after an additional federal court trial — this one at New Jersey on charges that the office he worked for was used to assist a friend in defrauding Medicare in the year the year 2017. The trial ended in the jury being deadlocked, and the prosecution decided to not conduct a second trial. With the support by The state’s Democratic established, Menendez won reelection.

However, his political fortunes changed following the indictment of September 2023 after allies throughout the state including Governor. Phil Murphy, and in the Senate requested his resignation.

Menendez promised to fight the charges he faces, as he did previous times, said he’d stay the course. But Menendez didn’t appear on ballots for Tuesday’s primary. Since he filed as an independent, he’s hoping to run in November.

There are two Republican candidate, Curtis Bashaw and Christine Serrano Glassner have attracted the most interest. Bashaw is an entrepreneur from the south of New Jersey hotel developer, has garnered significant county party support and Serrano Glassner is a former Trump President’s support.

Menendez. Steve Daines, chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said that Menendez’s decision “makes the race a bit more intriguing.”

Democrats say they’re confident that they will retain control of the Senate.

Senator. Gary Peters, chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, was unaware of Menendez’s choice when an interviewer inquired about the effect it could affect this race “We’re winning. A Democrat is going to win.”