PAYBACK? Justice Department going after Dem. Senator Bob Menendez on corruption charges

Interesting timing? U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) comes out hard against Obama and the Iran negotiations, and Eric Holder slaps him with a corruption charge on his way out. Menendez is the co-sponsor of the Corker-Menendez bill to enforce the sanctions against Iran.

Menendez has been making trouble for Obama's deal with Iran by insisting that the Senate do a number of things to keep Obama honest. He has also been one of the few Democrat Senators to oppose Obama on opening ties with Cuba, and has pushed for a more thorough investigation of the IRS.

Could this be a payback intended to push Menendez out of the way so that Obama can go ahead and sell out the U.S. and its Arab allies without interference?

From CNN:

The Justice Department is preparing to bring criminal corruption charges against New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez, a Democrat, alleging he used his Senate office to push the business interests of a Democratic donor and friend in exchange for gifts.

People briefed on the case say Attorney General Eric Holder has signed off on prosecutors' request to proceed with charges, CNN has learned exclusively. An announcement could come within weeks. Prosecutors are under pressure in part because of the statute of limitation on some of the allegations.

Read more....

Regardless of what one thinks of Menendez and the allegations previously made against him, it does sound rather coincidental that federal charges are suddenly about to be filed against him after an apparent rift between the Senator and President Obama over policy.

Given how our Justice Department has been run the past six years, I highly doubt this is an accident. The dogs were set loose after Menendez dared to express opinions that deviated from the party line.

I would think that this indictment comes at no surprise to Menendez who had to know he was under investigation all along; if not directly, then through his association with this physician. If he has a strong defense against these charges, he should not be intimidated by Holder. In fact, if possible, he should go on the offensive against Obama's policies even more than he has.

If news reports are accurate the charges appear to have little chances of sticking but by that time Menendez's will have been destroyed. If guilty, he should be prosecuted but this seems more like Chicago politics with Obama's enforcer (Holder) trying to whip the Senator back in line.

Should any of the allegations be proven, Menendez is toast. Still, the timing seems very convenient to get him out of the way and stop interfering with Obama's Iran "deal"* at a crucial moment in those "negotiations."*

The fact that it is near the statute of limitations and has apparently been investigated for some time indicates that this is a punishment for not supporting the President or making sure he will tow the line in a significant future vote.

President Obama could be sending a message to other Democrats and Republicans who may oppose him.

The cynicism and dishonesty of this administration is mind-boggling. Going after Menendez would have been somewhat credible despite the timing had Justice not appointed a Democrat donor and clear political hack to investigate the IRS scandal. As it is Justice has absolutely no credibility.

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