file photo by Boyd Loving
October 17,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Newark NJ, in a huge move on Monday a U.S. District Court Judge William H. Walls refused to dismiss any of the 18 criminal counts against U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez and Florida ophthalmologist Salomon Melgen, clearing the way for the pair’s bribery trial to enter the defense phase.
On Sunday the Ridgewood blog raised concerns that if the Menendez case gets tossed it would legalize bribery of public officials and that Federal prosecutors raised those concerns after U.S. District Court Judge William H. Walls suggested that the overturning of the conviction of former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell last year, the high court also invalidated the “stream of benefits” theory of bribery that prosecutors have used to build cases against Democrat Menendez and other public officials.
But Yesterday Judge Walls decided the felony corruption and bribery trial of Democrat Senator Bob Menendez will proceed on all counts. With over 84% of Menendez’s own constituents wanting him to resign if convicted, the Menendez trial could have major implications for the Trump agenda ,Healthcare , welfare reform and Tax reform .