In what looks very much like a repeat of what happened to U.S. Sen. Robert Torricelli more than a decade ago, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez has come under scrutiny in a possible criminal investigation over his close association with a campaign contributor.
After being tortured by negative headlines and suffering a significant drop in the political polls, Torricelli withdrew his reelection bid in 2002, paving the way for the return of U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg. Menendez became U.S. Senator when Jon Corzine was elected governor in 2005.
Menendez is reportedly being investigated for using his influence to help a doctor friend in Florida, allegedly in exchange for campaign contributions. Less serious, but equally provocative, are claims that Menendez accepted free trips and other perks. Claiming an oversight, Menendez said he wrote Dr. Salomon Melgen a personal check for $58,500 to reimburse him for plane rides.
Menendez has been under investigation before. In 2005, then-U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie tried to target the senator as he was seeking reelection, but the probe was dropped after Menendez won the election.
In 2007, The New York Times and other publications (including this one) wrote about Menendez allegedly steering business to his former legislative aide, accusations that arose not from the GOP but from staff members to former Gov. Jim McGreevey, still peeved at the role Menendez played in trying to push McGreevey out of the governorship in 2004.
Menendez allegedly wanted McGreevey to step down early to set up a special election that would allow Corzine to become governor ahead of the 2005 election. McGreevey refused. While Corzine was later appointed acting governor and went on to win the regular election, bitter feelings remained among some McGreevey people over Menendez’s behind-the-scenes tactics.
Is this Obama strong-arming Menendez?
Although the GOP is having a field day over the current accusations against Menendez, the alleged charges come out of a Democratic administration, suggesting some serious conflict in the upper ranks, in particular between Menendez and Pres. Barack Obama.
Some believe that Obama may have allowed the U.S. Department of Justice to pursue the case against Menendez because Menendez has opposed Obama on two significant issues: the reopening of diplomatic relations with Cuba, and Obama’s negotiations with Iran over nuclear development.
These two issues, along with his recent executive action on immigration, form the core of Obama’s foreign policy legacy – initiatives that go beyond the questionable benefits of Obamacare – for which Obama will take a place in history. Menendez has very good reasons to oppose Obama. A large chunk of Menendez’s political base is made up of old Cuban exiles.
On the other hand, while Menendez hemmed and hawed about Obama’s negotiations with Iran, Menendez did not side with Republican congressmen when they invited the prime minister of Israel to address Congress last week and denounce the Obama administration’s negotiations with Iran.
Democrats are furious over the fact that the GOP offered the invitation without informing Obama and that Republican senators later issued a letter to the Iranian government critical of Obama’s negotiations.
This is not new. Ronald Reagan, when a candidate against President Jimmy Carter, reportedly conducted private negotiations that many believed caused the Iranians to delay releasing American hostages held by Iran until after Reagan won the election.
Menendez could be faking it
Some political observers believe that Menendez may have known that the charges were going to be filed and may have deliberately taken an anti-Obama stance in order to claim later that the charges were politically motivated.
Locally, the charges against Menendez have a huge impact. If Menendez resigns or is forced out of office, Gov. Christie will get to select a temporary replacement, undoubtedly a Republican, until a special election can be held. But in the long run the most likely person to fill Menendez’s seat would be state Sen. Stephen Sweeney, a strong ally of South Jersey political boss George Norcross.
Sweeney is currently in contention with Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop for a possible run for governor. If Sweeney becomes U.S. Senator, this would go a long way towards giving Fulop a clearer path to become governor.
But Menendez, like McGreevey, isn’t going to get pushed out of office. Most believe he will fight the charges brought against him, and that he has enough of a war chest to do it.
The Sacco-Christie show
Is it a coincidence that the state attorney general’s office raided North Bergen’s Recreation Department on the same day that state Senator and North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco was holding his campaign rally for reelection?
Sacco has become a poster child to be used by Christie’s campaign against those who hold multiple public offices – as highlighted by remarks against Sacco made by the governor last week at a public forum. Sacco is a mayor, state senator, and public school adminstrator.
The raid might help boost the campaign of Larry Wainstein, who is running against Sacco in the upcoming May municipal elections.
The 150 protestors outside the Sacco rally were allegedly backed by Wainstein.
Hoboken Democrats split?
The endorsement of Annette Chaparro by Hoboken Democratic Chairman Jamie Cryan has a number of Democratic committee people upset.
Chaparro was selected by the Hudson County Democratic Organization to replace Assemblyman Carmelo Garcia in the Democratic Primary.
Cryan issued a letter of endorsement as the chairman for the Hoboken Democrats. But some committee people claim they were never consulted, and have vowed to remove Cryan as chairman.
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.