Representative Andy Kim has announced his intention to challenge Senator Bob Menendez in the upcoming election, the first major intraparty challenger since Menendez was indicted on bribery charges in 2018. Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has stated that he has no interest in running for the seat. The outcome of the election could have a significant impact on the balance of power in the Senate.
Posts tagged as “The Justice Department”
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) was indicted on Friday by Manhattan federal prosecutors for allegedly taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes and using his office to benefit a foreign government in exchange for favors. The FBI uncovered stacks of cash and gold bars in a 2013 search of his home, and Menendez has denied any wrongdoing. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison, and the case could have significant implications for his political future.
Sen. Bob Menendez and his wife Nadine have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of bribery and corruption, including providing sensitive U.S. government information and pressuring an official at the Agriculture Department. The couple is accused of receiving cash, gold bars, payments toward a home mortgage, and other items of value in exchange for Menendez using his influence as a U.S. senator. It is unclear if Menendez will face any further legal action or if the couple will face any jail time if convicted.
Abraham Teklu Lemma, a naturalized U.S. citizen with a top-secret security clearance, has been arrested on espionage charges for allegedly providing a foreign country with classified information. He is believed to have been working for and accessing sensitive U.S. government records at the bidding of Ethiopia since at least last summer. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison.
Attorney General Merrick Garland faced questioning from House Republicans at an oversight hearing on Wednesday, with Rep. Mike Johnson mistakenly calling him "Mr. Weiss" and pressing him on the Hunter Biden probe. Garland denied receiving any direction from the White House regarding the investigation and discussed the Justice Department's decision to drop the criminal case against Michael Flynn. The hearing is expected to last several hours as Republicans further question Garland about the Justice Department's handling of the Hunter Biden investigation and other matters.
The United States Department of Justice has announced the extradition of Ovidio Guzman Lopez, the son of former Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera, to the United States. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said the extradition is part of the Justice Department's effort to attack the cartel's operations, and comes just two days after El Chapo's wife was released from a federal prison. Lopez is currently in federal custody in Chicago and is facing drug trafficking charges, but no further details have been released.
Joseph Padilla, a disabled Army veteran and former prison corrections officer, was sentenced to 78 months in prison for his involvement in the January 6th Capitol riot. He was convicted of assault with a dangerous weapon, obstruction of Congress and other charges. The Justice Department has charged more than 400 people in connection with the riot, and more than 250 have been convicted.
Leo Brent Bozell IV, the son of conservative activist Brent Bozell, has been convicted of 10 charges related to his involvement in the storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. These charges include five felonies, such as obstructing the proceedings, assaulting a federal officer, and entering a restricted area of the Capitol. Bozell is the latest of more than 400 people to be charged in connection with the Capitol riot and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 6.