George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley said Washington elites appear to despise the “prehistoric” style of corruption of Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey.
The jury found Menendez guilty on all 16 federal corruption and bribery counts related to payments made to Menendez by the Egyptian government and three New Jersey businessmen in exchange for information, including thousands of dollars in cash and gold bars. Turley said the senator's corruption was old-fashioned, as opposed to modern corruption, which often takes the form of inducements.
“His form of corruption in Washington is practically prehistoric,” Turley said Tuesday. “The idea of receiving an envelope full of cash and a car is like Capone-era corruption, which some people despise just because it's unsophisticated. Corruption isn't like that anymore…Corruption is the kind of influence peddling we saw in the Hunter Biden case, with millions of dollars flowing through accounts, all of these pretty bizarre and questionable positions. This is something Washington turned its back on a long time ago.”
Turley said Washington's elites seem to despise Menendez's “prehistoric” style of corruption. pic.twitter.com/XBVl9K5kPO
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President Joe Biden's family has been accused of engaging in a peddling scheme to benefit his son Hunter Biden's overseas business dealings. House Republicans launched an impeachment inquiry in December to look into the president's possible involvement in his son's dealings, including phone conversations between Hunter Biden and his father surrounded by overseas business partners, as well as $20 million paid to the Bidens and their business partners. (Related: 'It could very well be the death penalty': Jonathan Turley says Bob Menendez faces lengthy prison time if convicted)
Turley also criticized senators who are only now realizing that Menendez is corrupt. Charged After his arrest in 2015 on charges of conspiracy, bribery and honest services fraud, an investigation found that he approved In exchange for helping with visa applications for Melvin's girlfriends and influencing a Medicare billing dispute worth millions of dollars, he was given $1 million worth of luxury trips, gifts and campaign contributions by longtime friend and donor Salomon Melgen.
“But what's so shocking about Menendez is that every member of the Senate is suggesting they've found that Bob Menendez may be corrupt,” Turley said. “You know, this is a man who's been notoriously corrupt for decades, and yet he's always been given the tools to maximize the flow of money. He's been appointed chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, and one of the dangers of that is you're dealing with a country that is rife with corruption. You're dealing with people who expect to be coaxed into giving money and to have to give gifts.”
“But if you look at previous criminal cases that Mr. Menendez effectively won, it followed the same pattern. This was in 2015, when he was accused of paying $60,000 worth of private airline flights; $1 million was given to his campaign in exchange for gifts. He dodged that bullet, then changed his tune and did it again,” Turley continued.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer It is called Menendez was forced to resign from Congress following his conviction.
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