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New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez Once Again Under Federal Investigation

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file photo by Boyd Loving

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez is once again the subject of a federal criminal investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New York, an adviser confirmed Wednesday. Numerous news outlets are reporting that “ethically challenged” Robert Menendez, a Democrat and the state’s senior member of the U.S. Senate, is being scrutinized by federal prosecutors.

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Department of Homeland Security Looks to Lodge to criminal charges against leaders of sanctuary cities

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January 17,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ, while Governor Phil Murphy pushes forward to turn New Jersey into a sanctuary state , Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen confirmed Tuesday that the department has asked federal prosecutors to see if they can lodge criminal charges against sanctuary cities that refuse to cooperate with federal deportation efforts.

“The Department of Justice (DOJ) is reviewing what avenues may be available,” Ms. Nielsen told the Senate Judiciary Committee.

This came on the heels of California’s new sanctuary law went into effect Jan. 1, severely restricting cooperation the state or any of its localities could offer.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Tom Homan says those policies put his officers and local communities at more risk because they have to arrest illegal immigrants out in the community.

Director Homan told The Washington Times last July that he wanted to see local officials charged as complicit in human smuggling if they shielded illegal immigrants through sanctuary policies.

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Federal Prosecutors Allege Menendez Took Bribes Since 2006

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file photo by Boyd Loving

August 31,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, according to federal prosecutors and court documents filed, Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez allegedly starting taking bribes from a wealthy donor Salomon Melgen shortly after he entered the Senate in 2006!

“The Government’s evidence at trial will demonstrate that, over time, the defendants’ bribery scheme grew in magnitude and breadth.  The jury will hear testimony from a variety of individuals who witnessed the scheme unfold, including guests and pilots who were present for the lavish vacations Melgen furnished for Menendez, public officials that Menendez pressured on Melgen’s behalf, and Menendez staffers who helped carry out Menendez’s advocacy.  In addition, the jury will see evidence of the defendants’ corrupt bargain in scores of contemporaneous communications between the defendants, their agents, and the officials they endeavored to influence, as well as records spanning everything from flight manifests and hotel bills to credit ”

Menendez’s bribery and corruption trial is set to begin next week. Justice Department prosecutors filed a new document Wednesday laying out their case against the New Jersey senator, as well as Dr. Salomon Melgen, his alleged co-conspirator. Melgen has already been convicted in a separate case of bilking Medicare but has not been sentenced yet.

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Corruption trial could roil NJ Senate race

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file photo by Boyd Loving

BY LISA HAGEN – 03/25/17 01:18 PM EDT

Sen. Robert Menendez ongoing corruption case could upend the New Jersey Democrat’s reelection bid in 2018, with the longtime politician scheduled to go to court this fall.

The Supreme Court delivered another blow this week to the embattled senator when it refused to dismiss the case. The trial is scheduled to begin about a year before the midterm elections.

Federal prosecutors charged Menendez, who has pleaded not guilty, in April 2015 on 14 criminal counts, including conspiracy to commit bribery.

Menendez is expected to head to trial on Sept. 6,facing a potential criminal conviction even as he would normally be preparing a re-election bid.

“It makes it very difficult to campaign if you’re on trial,” said Ross Baker, a political science professor at Rutgers University.

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/325733-corruption-case-could-roil-nj-senate-race