(USNewsMag.com) – Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman is upset about the “sleazeball.” New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez attended a Jan. 18 classified meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Fetterman questioned why Menendez was not expelled from the Senate after being charged with bribery involving foreign governments. He stated that Menendez “needs to go,” adding that he does not know why Democrats “haven’t chucked him.”
Fetterman went on to give an endorsement to Democrat Rep. Andy Kim in the New Jersey Senate race. Kim has also called for Menendez to step down.
In a post on Twitter, CNN reporter Manu Raju stated this was the second classified meeting Menendez has attended since he was indicted in September. He attended a similar classified meeting in November regarding Ukraine, according to Raju. Following the November meeting, Menendez stated that because he’s a senator and because of his security credentials, he has a right to attend such meetings. He added that Senate Majority Leader and New York Sen. Chuck Schumer have not banned him from attending the meetings. He also stated that “an accusation” is not proof he did anything.
In November, Fetterman introduced a resolution prohibiting Menendez from attending classified briefings. In December, Fetterman said it was hypocritical to have expelled former New York Rep. George Santos, a Republican, but not Menendez.
In September, Menendez and his wife, Nadine Menendez, were indicted on charges that they “engaged in a corrupt relationship” with three New Jersey businessmen. In exchange for the influence of Menendez “to benefit the Arab Republic of Egypt” and to “protect and enrich” the three businessmen, Menendez allegedly received bribes of home mortgage payments, a luxury vehicle, gold bars, and cash. Following his indictment, he stepped down as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, though he remains on the committee.
On Jan. 15, Menendez and his wife requested separate trials, according to documents filed by their lawyers. Their trial is scheduled to start in May.
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