The goal, senators and aides say, is to highlight what Democrats see as hypocrisy and a blatant abuse of power on the part of McConnell (R-Ky.), who blocked President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee in 2016 but is pressing forward with the goal of confirming President Donald Trump’s pick, Amy Coney Barrett, before Election Day…
6 Takeaways from 2018’s Super Tuesday…
Voters in eight states cast their ballots Tuesday in what amounts to the most significant primary election of the 2018 season, a Super Tuesday for partisans battling for control of Congress. In critical races across the country, Democrats had a good night. But so too did Republicans, who avoided a disaster that could have cost […]
U.S. Prosecutors Drop Corruption Case Against Sen. Menendez…
The U.S. Justice Department has dropped its bribery case against Democratic Senator Bob Menendez, lifting a cloud that had hovered over his expected 2018 reelection bid and removing a potential distraction for his party in a key election year. Menendez, a longtime fixture of New Jersey politics, was accused of accepting gifts from a wealthy […]
Mnuchin Defends Russia Sanctions Delay…
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Tuesday defended his department’s implementation of a bipartisan Russia sanctions law, vowing to senators that “there will be sanctions” stemming from the Trump administration’s work. Mnuchin’s remarks come amid rising frustration from Democrats over the administration’s decision Monday to delay the issuance of new penalties targeting Moscow’s defense and intelligence […]
Feds Intend to Re-Try Menendez…
Two months after a jury failed to come to a verdict in the corruption case against Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez and co-defendant Salomon Melgen, the Justice Department on Friday said they want to retry them. The department filed a one paragraph notice of intent in federal to retry the case. “The United States files this […]
Mistrial Declared in Bob Menendez Bribery Case, Senator Vows Political Vengeance…
A federal judge on Thursday declared a mistrial in the high-profile bribery case of New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, after jurors twice reported they were hopelessly deadlocked. “There’s no alternative to declaring a mistrial,” U.S. District Court Judge William Walls said. The mistrial is a major victory for Menendez and a blow to the […]
Judge Rejects Menendez Request to Toss Bribery Charges…
A federal judge on Monday refused to throw out 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. Defense attorneys had argued a U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning the conviction of former Virginia governor Robert […]
Defense Says Corruption Case Against Menendez, Friend an ‘Attack’ on Hispanics…
A defense attorney claimed in court Thursday that the federal government’s bribery case against Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez (N.J.) and a Florida doctor is an “attack” on Hispanic Americans. The attorney, Kirk Ogrosky, is representing Menendez’s co-defendant, ophthalmologist Salomon Melgen, and characterized the lawsuit…
Top Dems Took Campaign Cash From Senator on Trial for Corruption…
Judge Smacks Down Menendez Request to Halt Criminal Trial During ‘Critical’ Senate Votes…
A U.S. district court judge has denied Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez’s (N.J.) request to have his corruption trial recessed on days when the Senate has a “critical” vote. Judge William H. Walls said in a statement Friday that Menendez is no more “entitled” than any other defendant. The Judge said Menedez’s ‘unique situation’…