With the words, “I’m not going anywhere,” New Jersey’s senior Sen. Robert Menendez professed his innocence. It’s not a surprise. The most powerful Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has been indicted on 14 counts of conspiracy and fraud. Menendez has said he’ll fight the criminal charges, the first brought against a sitting U.S. senator in seven years. NJTV News Chief Political Correspondent Michael Aron was in Newark to cover the press conference.
A month ago, Menendez declared his innocence in the same room. Aron said the difference tonight was that the room was also full of supporters — members of the Hispanic community and Stop FEMA Now.
West New York Mayor Felix Roque was in attendance and showed his support for Menendez. “We believe in the man. He’s been a great man, a public servant for many years. A man of integrity. A Cuban-American like myself, so a group of about 25 political prisoners from Cuba came over to say that we’re here, present to support him because we believe in the man,” Roque said.
Roque said he’s seen charges before and he doesn’t believe anything written on paper. “I know he’s innocent and I’m gonna say that he’s a strong man. He will fight til the end and he will be victorious,” Roque said.
According to Roque, fighting the charges will make Menendez stronger. “Everybody’s supporting him, everybody’s behind him because we all know what this is all about. So at the end of the day, he’s gonna rise the phoenix and he’s gonna be the hero, which he presently is for all the Hispanics and non-Hispanics in New Jersey,” said Roque.
The mayor called Menendez a man of integrity and honor and said he would never do anything wrong. “I really believe from the heart that he’s innocent and he will prevail,” Roque said.
Aron said a key line from Menendez during his press conference was, “I’m angry. I’m angry because prosecutors don’t know the difference between friendship and corruption.” And he said Menendez went on to point out that the prosecutors sometimes get it wrong.
Menendez didn’t answer any questions during his press conference so there’s no word about his position on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Aron said there are already calls for his resignation, however, including an editorial from the Star-Ledger saying that Menendez is crippled as a representative of the people of New Jersey because he’s going to be distracted having to fight the charges.
Aron said Menendez struck a similar tone tonight as he did a month ago after CNN reported he might be indicted soon. The difference was there were supporters in the room tonight.
Tomorrow Menendez heads to federal court in Newark. Aron said, “Tonight was a media frenzy. That will be as well.”