Making Menendez

Republicans have been investigating President Joe Biden and his son Hunter for corruption, even insisting the president is guilty of taking bribes. They’ve conducted House investigations and spread rumors on social media and on goon TV networks. Yesterday, they got what they wanted. An indictment of an elected Democrat for taking bribes. But, it’s not the Democrat they were shooting for.

New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez has been indicted before. He beat the last one with a mistrial in 2017 and said afterward, “To those who were digging my political grave, I know who you are and I won’t forget you.” Apparently, the diggers didn’t forget him either because he and his wife were indicted yesterday for what prosecutors say is a bribery scheme involving foreign power, piles of cash, and gold bars.

Menendez’s first defense is that he’s from New Jersey, a state that’s never been associated with criminal activity. That damn Sopranos show really gave that state a bad reputation. New Jersey is as free of corruption as I am of sarcasm.

Prosecutors said Menendez used his position as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee to provide sensitive government information to Egypt, browbeat the Department of Agriculture, and tamper with a criminal investigation. In exchange, Menendez was rewarded with gold bars, a Mercedes Benz, cash, home mortgage payments, and other benefits. Prosecutors even searched Menendez’s internet history and discovered he once Googled, “How much is one kilo of gold worth?”. Prosecutors say Menendez’s “benefactors” referred to him as “our man.” One potential GOP challenger to Menendez’s seat has already given him the nickname “Gold Bar Bob.” That’s catchy.

Menendez has vowed to clear his name while running for reelection. Unlike Republicans, most of his party is calling for him to resign. Two prominent ones who have not are his fellow New Jersey Senator, Cory Booker, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Those two need to do the right thing and call for his resignation. Show Republicans how it’s done.

Menendez is innocent until proven guilty, but he should resign. It’s a disservice to his constituents and the nation to have a Senator with this distraction. Menendez should also use this opportunity to show Republicans that resigning amidst these charges is the right thing to do. Staying in office during this very credible case is purely selfish on Menendez’s part. Besides, he doesn’t really need the income anymore. He has all those gold bars to fall back on.

Republicans have refused to call for Trump to end his campaign and he has four indictments with 91 criminal charges. Even Kevin McCarthy can’t muster up the courage or balls to call for criminal imposter George Santos to resign, who has been charged with 13 counts of wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds, and making false statements to Congress.

The reason there are criminal charges against Senator Robert Menendez and not for President Joe Biden is because there’s evidence against Menendez and NONE against Biden. Now, if Republicans want to demand that Hunter Biden resign from the zero positions he currently holds, I’m perfectly fine with that.

Creative note: I like my caricature of Menendez. While some cartoonists trace photos for their caricatures, I do not.

Music note: I listened to ZZ Top

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