Republicans ignore Menendez conviction, going all in as pro-criminal party
Pity poor Republicans. Once upon a time, they proudly claimed to be the party of law and order. Today? They can’t even bring themselves to criticize Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, who was just convicted of 16 counts of bribery. Democrats are calling on Menendez to resign immediately, or be expelled from the Senate. “In light of this guilty verdict, Senator Menendez must now do what is right for his constituents, the Senate, and our country, and resign,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer tweeted. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy was equally direct. “I reiterate my call for Senator Menendez to resign immediately after being found guilty of endangering national security and the integrity of our criminal justice system,” Murphy said. “If he refuses to vacate his office, I call on the U.S. Senate to vote to expel him.” Fellow New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker called it “a dark, painful day for the people of New Jersey.” Other Democrats quickly joined the chorus. You know who didn’t? Republicans. As of 4 PM ET, on Tuesday, July 16: Nothing from Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Nothing from Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. Nothing from Senate Republican Whip John Thune. Nothing from Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson. Nothing from Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Steve Daines. There’s a simple reason, of course. If these high-profile Republicans argue that a convicted felon can’t hold public office, that also means that their presidential nominee, Donald Trump, is also not fit to hold public office. Menendez was convicted of 16 counts of bribery and corruption? Hell, that’s just amateur hour compared to the 34 counts Trump has already been convicted of, and the 54 more he still faces in court (assuming the appeals court reverses Judge Aileen Cannon’s Monday dismissal of 40 of them, as expected). Republicans have surrendered their “law and order” cred in defense of the most corrupt politician in American history. And they seem totally okay with that. Campaign Action
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Pity poor Republicans. Once upon a time, they proudly claimed to be the party of law and order. Today?
They can’t even bring themselves to criticize Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, who was just convicted of 16 counts of bribery.
Democrats are calling on Menendez to resign immediately, or be expelled from the Senate.
“In light of this guilty verdict, Senator Menendez must now do what is right for his constituents, the Senate, and our country, and resign,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer tweeted.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy was equally direct.
“I reiterate my call for Senator Menendez to resign immediately after being found guilty of endangering national security and the integrity of our criminal justice system,” Murphy said. “If he refuses to vacate his office, I call on the U.S. Senate to vote to expel him.”
Fellow New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker called it “a dark, painful day for the people of New Jersey.”
Other Democrats quickly joined the chorus. You know who didn’t?
Republicans. As of 4 PM ET, on Tuesday, July 16:
Nothing from Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Nothing from Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
Nothing from Senate Republican Whip John Thune.
Nothing from Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Nothing from Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Steve Daines.
There’s a simple reason, of course. If these high-profile Republicans argue that a convicted felon can’t hold public office, that also means that their presidential nominee, Donald Trump, is also not fit to hold public office. Menendez was convicted of 16 counts of bribery and corruption? Hell, that’s just amateur hour compared to the 34 counts Trump has already been convicted of, and the 54 more he still faces in court (assuming the appeals court reverses Judge Aileen Cannon’s Monday dismissal of 40 of them, as expected).
Republicans have surrendered their “law and order” cred in defense of the most corrupt politician in American history. And they seem totally okay with that. Campaign Action
