Sen. Bob Menendez, in Defiant Speech on Senate Floor, Claims He 'Received Nothing' From Qatar

Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) is at it again. On Tuesday, he delivered a defiant speech on the Senate floor, claiming he "received nothing" from Qatar in exchange for any favors he may or may not have done the Qataris.

.@SenatorMenendez: "I have received nothing, absolutely nothing from the government of Qatar, or on behalf of the government of Qatar to promote their image or their issues."

Sen. Bob Menendez on Tuesday delivered a defiant and at times emotional speech, denying he had received… pic.twitter.com/bmiYQGwVol
— The Hill (@thehill) January 9, 2024

This comes a week after prosecutors filed a superseding indictment against Senator Menendez for doing precisely that.

The New Jersey Democrat said, a week after federal prosecutors filed a second superseding indictment against him, that he received “absolutely nothing” from Qatar and intensely criticized what he argued is a relentless campaign by prosecutors to get him to resign.
Menendez also choked up at times, saying he is “suffering greatly” as a result of the charges.
“The United States attorney’s office is engaged not in a prosecution, but a persecution. They seek a victory, not justice,” Menendez said, calling the allegations sensationalized. “It’s an unfortunate reality but prosecutors sometimes shoot first before they even know all the facts.”
“I have received nothing — absolutely nothing — from the government of Qatar or on behalf of the government of Qatar to promote their image or their issues,” Menendez said.

The U.S. Attorney's office begs to differ.

According to the U.S. attorney’s office, Menendez received a pair of tickets for a Formula One race in 2022, as well as gold bars and cash. He was also offered a $24,000 watch, prosecutors allege, but it was unclear whether he actually received it.
“There is no evidence of the giving or receiving of cash and gold bars,” Menendez added.
Prosecutors say that in return, the three-term senator issued and supported statements lauding the Qatari government to help a New Jersey developer secure a lucrative deal.

Senator Menendez's protestations of innocence aside, he is rapidly losing support among his fellow Senate Democrats. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has described Senator Menendez's conduct as "way below the standard of a senator" (and if that's not the most ironic statement of the year, it will do until a better one comes along), and Senator John Fetterman (D-PA,) further bolstering his run to the less-left-than-most-Democrats, has called on Menendez to be ousted from the Senate.

Of course, Senator Menendez is entitled, like any citizen, to a presumption of innocence, due process, and, if necessary, a trial by his peers.

Senator Menendez also faces a primary challenge from New Jersey Representative Andy Kim (D-NJ) and Tammy Murphy, New Jersey's First Lady. Since New Jersey is a deeply Democratic state, the outcome of the primary is likely to preview the outcome of the general election.

Following his initial indictment last October, Senator Menendez's approval ratings in New Jersey have dropped into the single digits. Protestations of innocence aside, it appears that the Garden State Senator's political career is coming to an ignominious ending.

See previous RedState reporting on Senator Menendez:

Bob Menendez Blocked Bills Reforming FARA Before Being Indicted for Acting as Foreign Agent

Sen. Bob Menendez Allegedly Tried to Install Ally As US Attorney to Help Friend Facing Indictment

Corruption in the Senate: Bob Menendez (D-NJ) Strikes Again