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Senator Menendez Will Step Down - How Much Damage Will He Do To Democrats On His Way Out? [1]

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Date: 2023-09-25

I know somewhere between zero and zilch about New Jersey politics. But watching the situation with Senator Bob Menendez unfold, I’m struggling to see how his remaining in office won’t hurt Democrats politically, at the state and local level and at the national level. But so far, he’s refusing to step down. I expect he’ll resign, but the only question now is how much damage will he do on his way out.



www.huffpost.com/…



A cursory look at the 2024 U.S. Senate electoral map makes it pretty obvious that we really cannot afford any own goals this cycle. And any support for or silence about Menendez from Democrats only fuels the “both sides are corrupt” narrative. Worse yet, it hollows out any “nobody is above the law” comment any Democrat ever makes about Trump.



Menendez is entitled to a fair trial and due process and should receive both. But to allow that process to play out while he’s in office doesn’t do Democrats any favors. If (as he insists will happen) he is exonerated, that verdict would not likely be reached for months (have you seen our legal system in action lately?), and that entire time will be an opportunity for the opposition to point to how crooked the Democrats are. (Yes, that’s the height of hypocrisy, but when has that ever stopped a Republican?) If he’s somehow found guilty before November, then the Democrats could be saddled with a convicted criminal running for reelection. (See Trump’s not so bad now, right? — Both sides!)



This guy barely escaped another prosecution practically 5 minutes ago, and the more info that surfaces the worse it looks (bundles of cash inside of clothing and a stash of actual gold bars — Really?!) And he’s not alone in this — his wife is also indicted.



Though he insists otherwise, Menendez will resign. We’ve all seen this trajectory before and we know how it ends. First, indignant vehement denial, followed by digging in of the heels and vowing to fight to the bitter end, followed by choosing to spend more time with the family. If he really cares about his party and about the future of his country at all, Senator Menendez should do the right thing and just skip to that last part now. The longer he stays, the worse this gets.

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/9/25/2195421/-Senator-Menendez-Will-Step-Down-How-Much-Damage-Will-He-Do-To-Democrats-On-His-Way-Out

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